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Climate in East Grand Rapids · NOAA 1991–2020 normals

East Grand Rapids has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers

A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 17°, and about 75 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

A year in East Grand Rapids at a glance

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

Jan31°17° 22" snow
Feb34°18° 22" snow
Mar45°25°
Apr58°36°
May69°47° Nice outLast frost ~6
Jun79°56° Nice out
Jul83°60° Nice out4 days 90°+
Aug81°59° Nice out
Sep74°51° Nice out
Oct now61°41° First frost ~10Wettest
Nov47°31°
Dec36°23° 17" snow

What stands out about East Grand Rapids’s climate

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

★ What stands out · Rain & snow

75 inches of snow, 37 of rain and melt

October is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 152 days a year.

37"
Rain + melted snow a year
212th wettest of 1,983 Michigan towns
Less than 59% of U.S. towns
75"
Snow in a normal winter
569th snowiest of 1,918 Michigan towns
More than 93% of U.S. towns
73 days
With 1"+ of snow on the ground
797th least snowy of 1,603 Michigan towns
More than 78% of U.S. towns

Rain + melted snow by month

Inches of water

3.9"
JFMAMJJASOND

Snowfall by month

Inches of snow

22"
JFMAMJJASOND
Frost & heat

About 157 frost-free days a year

In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 6 and the first by October 10.

143
nights at or below 32° in a normal year
3
nights below 0° in a normal year
9
days that reach 90° in a normal year

Freezing nights by month

Average nights at or below 32°

28
JFMAMJJASOND

90° days by month

Average days at 90° or more

4.0
JFMAMJJASOND
A normal year

What a year in East Grand Rapids feels like

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

Winter
34° / 20°
25 days with 1"+ of snow
Spring
57° / 36°
Last frost around May 6
Summer
81° / 58°
9 days reach 90°
Fall
61° / 41°
First frost around Oct 10
Best months to be outsideMayJunJulAugSepHighs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more
Living here

Living with East Grand Rapids’s climate

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

The garden window

157 frost-free days. The last frost comes by May 6 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 10.

Snow season

About 75" a winter over 25 days with an inch or more, most in February. Snow covers the ground about 73 days a year.

Furnace season

Months averaging under 55° run from October through April. Heating is 92% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.

Summer heat

About 9 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 83°.

Get outside

The nicest months are May, June, July, August and September. 5.5 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

East Grand Rapids and its neighbors

Grand Rapids has the coldest January nights next door (17°) and Grand Rapids the hottest July afternoons (83°). Tap a town to see its climate.

Walker: January low 17°, July high 83°Wyoming: January low 18°, July high 83°Kentwood: January low 17°, July high 83°Ada: January low 17°, July high 83°Plainfield: January low 17°, July high 83°Cascade: January low 17°, July high 83°Grand Rapids: January low 17°, July high 83°Grand Rapids: January low 17°, July high 83°East Grand Rapids: January low 17°, July high 83° East Grand RapidsGrand RapidsGrand Rapids
ColderMilder17° to 18°
Grand Rapids16.8° −0.5°
East Grand Rapids17.3°
Grand Rapids17.3° same

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 East Grand Rapids averaged 1.5° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.9°).

+1.5°1991–2020 vs. 1901–2000

A bigger shift than in 70% of U.S. towns.

❄️ Winter+2.5°now 27°, was 24°
🌷 Spring+1.5°now 47°, was 45°
☀️ Summer+0.9°now 70°, was 69°
🍂 Fall+1.0°now 51°, was 50°

Change by month

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Compared with other towns

How East Grand Rapids compares

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

Summer heat83° July high
Cooler than 67% of U.S. towns265th hottest of 1,983 Michigan towns
Winter cold17° January low
Colder than 60% of U.S. towns338th mildest of 1,983 Michigan towns
Precipitation37" a year
Drier than 59% of U.S. towns212th wettest of 1,983 Michigan towns
Snow75" a winter
Snowier than 93% of U.S. towns569th snowiest of 1,918 Michigan towns
Growing season157 frost-free days
Shorter than 74% of U.S. towns914th shortest of 1,980 Michigan towns
Month by month

East Grand Rapids 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
January31°17°2.5" 21.7"182315° – 34°
February34°18°2.1" 22.3"142113° – 34°
March45°25°2.3" 5.3"10926° – 50°
April58°36°3.8" 2.6"14139° – 53°
May69°47°3.8" 014050° – 64°
June79°56°3.6" 011063° – 73°
July83°60°3.3" 09066° – 78°
August81°59°3.4" 010064° – 75°
September74°51°3.2" 010056° – 66°
October61°41°3.9" 015047° – 57°
November47°31°3.0" 6.0"12332° – 47°
December36°23°2.5" 17.0"161519° – 39°
Year58°39°37.5"74.9"15273
Heating & cooling

Heating and cooling a home in East Grand Rapids

92% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.

92%heating
6,712 heating degree daysMore heating than 69% of U.S. towns
547 cooling degree daysLess cooling than 73% 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. March swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 26° to 50°. June is the most reliable, staying within 9°.

Coldest to warmest month in 30 yearsNormal

Common questions about East Grand Rapids’s climate

What is the coldest month in East Grand Rapids?

January, with a typical high of 31° and a low of 17°.

What is the hottest month in East Grand Rapids?

July, with a typical high of 83° and a low of 60°. About 9 days a year reach 90°.

How much snow does East Grand Rapids get?

About 75 inches in a normal winter, most of it in February.

When is the first frost in East Grand Rapids?

In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 10, and the last spring frost by May 6.

What is the rainiest month in East Grand Rapids?

October, with 3.9 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 37 inches.

Neighbors talk weather

Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in East Grand Rapids.

Town Square →
Weigh in
Are East Grand Rapids 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 East Grand Rapids itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at East Grand Rapids, MI (1 mi) away. 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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