Sign inJoin
Climate in Eagle River · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

Eagle River has cold winters and cool summers

A typical July afternoon reaches 75°, a January night drops to 10°.

A year in Eagle River at a glance

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

Jan23°10°
Feb26°10° Coldest
Mar35°16°
Apr46°28°
May60°39° Last frost ~17
Jun70°48° Nice out
Jul75°54° Nice outWarmest
Aug74°54° Nice out
Sep66°48° Nice out
Oct now52°37° First frost ~1Wettest
Nov39°26°
Dec28°17°

What stands out about Eagle River’s climate

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

★ What stands out · Next door

Eagle River and its neighbors

Houghton has the coldest January nights next door (4°) and Allouez the hottest July afternoons (75°). Tap a town to see its climate.

Sherman: January low 10°, July high 76°Calumet: January low 9°, July high 76°Eagle Harbor: January low 11°, July high 74°Grant: January low 13°, July high 73°Copper Harbor: January low 11°, July high 74°Houghton: January low 4°, July high 73°Allouez: January low 10°, July high 75°Eagle Harbor: January low 4°, July high 74°Eagle River: January low 10°, July high 75° Eagle RiverHoughtonAllouezEagle Harbor
ColderMilder4° to 13°
Houghton4.0° −6.4°
Eagle Harbor4.3° −6.1°
Allouez9.6° −0.8°
Eagle River10.4°

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.

A normal year

What a year in Eagle River feels like

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

Winter
26° / 12°
Snow is rare
Spring
47° / 28°
Last frost around May 17
Summer
73° / 52°
2 days reach 90°
Fall
52° / 37°
First frost around Oct 1
Best months to be outsideJunJulAugSepHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Rain & snow

Rain and snow in Eagle River

October is the wettest month and March the driest.

31"
Rain + melted snow a year
74th driest of 1,983 Michigan towns
Less than 75% of U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

3.3"
JFMAMJJASOND

Snowfall by month

No snow records from a nearby station.

Frost & heat

About 138 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 17 and the first by October 1.

175
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
17
nights below 0° in a normal year
2
days that reach 90° in a normal year

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

31
JFMAMJJASOND

90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

0.8
JFMAMJJASOND
Living here

Living with Eagle River’s climate

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

The garden window

138 frost-free days. The last frost comes by May 17 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 1.

Furnace season

Months averaging under 55° run from October through May. Heating is 98% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.

Summer heat

About 2 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 75°.

Get outside

The nicest months are June, July, August and September. 14 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 →
Then and now

Warmer than it used to be

The last 30 years in Eagle River averaged 1.7° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+3.0°).

+1.7°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A bigger shift than in 80% of U.S. towns.

❄️ Winter+2.8°now 19°, was 16°
🌷 Spring+1.2°now 37°, was 36°
☀️ Summer+1.3°now 63°, was 61°
🍂 Fall+1.4°now 45°, was 43°

Change by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Compared with other towns

How Eagle River compares

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

Summer heat75° July high
Cooler than 98% of U.S. towns18th coolest of 1,983 Michigan towns
Winter cold10° January low
Colder than 81% of U.S. towns207th coldest of 1,983 Michigan towns
Precipitation31" a year
Drier than 75% of U.S. towns74th driest of 1,983 Michigan towns
Growing season138 frost-free days
Shorter than 90% of U.S. towns483rd shortest of 1,980 Michigan towns
Month by month

Eagle River weather by month

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

MonthHighLowRain + melt30-yr range
January23°10°2.2" 5° – 25°
February26°10°1.5" 6° – 30°
March35°16°1.4" 16° – 39°
April46°28°2.4" 31° – 45°
May60°39°3.0" 44° – 54°
June70°48°2.9" 56° – 64°
July75°54°3.2" 58° – 69°
August74°54°3.0" 59° – 68°
September66°48°3.3" 51° – 63°
October52°37°3.3" 39° – 50°
November39°26°2.3" 25° – 40°
December28°17°2.0" 14° – 31°
Year49°32°30.5"
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in Eagle River

98% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.

98%heating
9,013 heating degree daysMore heating than 95% of U.S. towns
206 cooling degree daysLess cooling than 96% 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 30°. June is the most reliable, staying within 8°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal

Common questions about Eagle River’s climate

What is the coldest month in Eagle River?

February, with a typical high of 26° and a low of 10°.

What is the hottest month in Eagle River?

July, with a typical high of 75° and a low of 54°. About 2 days a year reach 90°.

When is the first frost in Eagle River?

In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 1, and the last spring frost by May 17.

What is the rainiest month in Eagle River?

October, with 3.3 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 31 inches.

Neighbors talk weather

Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Eagle River.

Town Square →
Weigh in
Is Eagle River’s weather one of its best features?

Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.

Ask your neighbors

Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Eagle River itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Hancock Houghton Co Airport, MI (19 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.

Post to Eagle River

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in