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Climate in Advance · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

Advance has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers

A typical July afternoon reaches 80°, a January night drops to 14°, and about 122 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

A year in Advance at a glance

Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.

Jan27°14° 37" snow
Feb30°13° 23" snow
Mar40°20°
Apr52°31°
May66°41° Nice outLast frost ~16
Jun76°52° Nice out
Jul80°57° Nice out3 days 90°+
Aug78°56° Nice out
Sep71°49° Nice out
Oct now57°39° First frost ~6Wettest
Nov44°30°
Dec33°21° 35" snow

What stands out about Advance’s climate

Read from where Advance sits among Michigan’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.

★ What stands out · Rain & snow

122 inches of snow, 35 of rain and melt

October is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 149 days a year.

35"
Rain + melted snow a year
765th wettest of 1,983 Michigan towns
Less than 66% of U.S. towns
122"
Snow in a normal winter
138th snowiest of 1,918 Michigan towns
More than 99% of U.S. towns
110 days
With 1"+ of snow on the ground
263rd snowiest of 1,603 Michigan towns
More than 94% of U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

4.3"
JFMAMJJASOND

Snowfall by month

Inches of snow

37"
JFMAMJJASOND
A normal year

What a year in Advance feels like

Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.

Winter
30° / 16°
39 days with 1"+ of snow
Spring
53° / 31°
Last frost around May 16
Summer
78° / 55°
5 days reach 90°
Fall
57° / 39°
First frost around Oct 6
Best months to be outsideMayJunJulAugSepHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Frost & heat

About 144 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 16 and the first by October 6.

170
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
14
nights below 0° in a normal year
5
days that reach 90° in a normal year

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

30
JFMAMJJASOND

90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

2.9
JFMAMJJASOND
Living here

Living with Advance’s climate

What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.

The garden window

144 frost-free days. The last frost comes by May 16 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Oct 6.

Snow season

About 122" a winter over 39 days with an inch or more, most in January. Snow covers the ground about 110 days a year.

Furnace season

Months averaging under 55° run from October through May. Heating is 97% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.

Summer heat

About 5 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 80°.

Get outside

The nicest months are May, June, July, August and September. 1.8 miles of trails are waiting.

Parks & trails →
Storms and extremes

Normals are averages. Ice storms, nor’easters, floods and heat waves are on the natural hazards page.

Natural hazards →
Next door

Advance and its neighbors

Wilson has the coldest January nights next door (13°) and Wilson the hottest July afternoons (80°). Tap a town to see its climate.

South Arm: January low 14°, July high 81°Evangeline: January low 14°, July high 79°Marion: January low 15°, July high 78°Hayes: January low 15°, July high 78°Charlevoix: January low 17°, July high 76°Boyne Valley: January low 12°, July high 80°Jordan: January low 13°, July high 80°Eveline: January low 14°, July high 80°Wilson: January low 13°, July high 80°Boyne City: January low 14°, July high 80°Advance: January low 14°, July high 80° AdvanceEvelineWilsonBoyne City
ColderMilder12° to 17°
Wilson12.9° −0.7°
Boyne City13.5° −0.1°
Advance13.6°
Eveline13.9° +0.3°

Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.

Then and now

Warmer than it used to be

The last 30 years in Advance averaged 1.7° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+3.2°).

+1.7°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A bigger shift than in 84% of U.S. towns.

❄️ Winter+2.8°now 23°, was 20°
🌷 Spring+1.4°now 42°, was 40°
☀️ Summer+1.3°now 66°, was 65°
🍂 Fall+1.4°now 48°, was 47°

Change by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Compared with other towns

How Advance compares

Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in Michigan.

Summer heat80° July high
Cooler than 87% of U.S. towns536th coolest of 1,983 Michigan towns
Winter cold14° January low
Colder than 74% of U.S. towns546th coldest of 1,983 Michigan towns
Precipitation35" a year
Drier than 66% of U.S. towns765th wettest of 1,983 Michigan towns
Snow122" a winter
Snowier than 99% of U.S. towns138th snowiest of 1,918 Michigan towns
Growing season144 frost-free days
Shorter than 85% of U.S. towns594th shortest of 1,980 Michigan towns
Month by month

Advance weather by month

Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.

MonthHighLowRain + meltSnowWet daysSnow on ground30-yr range
January27°14°2.3" 37.4"17299° – 29°
February30°13°1.5" 23.1"12286° – 31°
March40°20°1.9" 11.0"102120° – 43°
April52°31°2.9" 4.6"11332° – 49°
May66°41°3.1" 012046° – 60°
June76°52°3.2" 010060° – 70°
July80°57°2.9" 010061° – 72°
August78°56°3.2" 010062° – 71°
September71°49°3.8" 011054° – 65°
October57°39°4.3" 0.7"15043° – 55°
November44°30°3.0" 10.0"15730° – 44°
December33°21°2.5" 35.4"162118° – 36°
Year55°35°34.7"122.2"149110
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in Advance

97% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.

97%heating
8,159 heating degree daysMore heating than 88% of U.S. towns
287 cooling degree daysLess cooling than 92% of U.S. towns

Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.

Year to year

How much a month can swing

A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 6° to 31°. August is the most reliable, staying within 9°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal

Common questions about Advance’s climate

What is the coldest month in Advance?

February, with a typical high of 30° and a low of 13°.

What is the hottest month in Advance?

July, with a typical high of 80° and a low of 57°. About 5 days a year reach 90°.

How much snow does Advance get?

About 122 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.

When is the first frost in Advance?

In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 6, and the last spring frost by May 16.

What is the rainiest month in Advance?

October, with 4.3 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 35 inches.

Neighbors talk weather

Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Advance.

Town Square →
Weigh in
Are Advance winters worth it?

Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.

Ask your neighbors

Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Advance itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at East Jordan, MI (5 mi, snow) and East Jordan 2nw, MI (3 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.

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