Cleveland, MI climate
Cleveland has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 77°, a January night drops to 17°, and about 143 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decade2° warmer than normal today. The forecast high is 64°, and a typical Oct 1 in Cleveland peaks around 62°.Live forecast: National Weather Service · Normal: NOAA 1991–2020
What a year in Cleveland feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Cleveland weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28° | 17° | 2.3" | 44.5" | 19 | 29 | 13° – 31° |
| February | 29° | 16° | 1.5" | 27.5" | 13 | 28 | 10° – 33° |
| March | 39° | 23° | 1.9" | 14.3" | 10 | 23 | 21° – 45° |
| April | 50° | 32° | 2.9" | 6.4" | 10 | 5 | 33° – 48° |
| May | 63° | 43° | 3.1" | 0.2" | 11 | 0 | 44° – 59° |
| June | 73° | 53° | 2.9" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 58° – 69° |
| July | 77° | 59° | 2.7" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 62° – 73° |
| August | 76° | 59° | 2.9" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 63° – 72° |
| September | 69° | 52° | 3.6" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 55° – 66° |
| October | 56° | 42° | 4.1" | 0.5" | 13 | 0 | 44° – 55° |
| November | 44° | 32° | 2.8" | 13.9" | 15 | 6 | 31° – 45° |
| December | 33° | 24° | 2.4" | 36.0" | 16 | 23 | 21° – 37° |
| Year | 53° | 38° | 33.0" | 143.3" | 143 | 114 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Cleveland
Cleveland gets 33 inches of rain and melted snow a year. October is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 143 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 114 days of the year.
About 140 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 22 and the first one by October 9. That leaves about 140 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 89% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Cleveland
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Cleveland, 95% of that work is heating and 5% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
Cleveland and its neighbors
Cleveland borders 4 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 4.0°. Kasson has the coldest January nights (14°) and Glen Arbor the hottest July afternoons (80°). Cleveland’s January low is 17° and its July high 77°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Cleveland compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Cleveland averaged 2.3° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+3.6°). The shift is larger than in 99% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Cleveland’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. March swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 21° to 45°. August is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Common questions about Cleveland’s climate
What is the coldest month in Cleveland?
February, with a typical high of 29° and a low of 16°.
What is the hottest month in Cleveland?
July, with a typical high of 77° and a low of 59°. About 6 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Cleveland get?
About 143 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Cleveland?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 9, and the last spring frost by May 22.
What is the rainiest month in Cleveland?
October, with 4.1 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 33 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Cleveland itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Maple City 1e, MI (8 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.