McKinley, MI climate
McKinley has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 80°, a January night drops to 16°, and about 43 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in McKinley feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
McKinley 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 | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29° | 16° | 1.8" | 14.4" | 14 | 12° – 32° |
| February | 32° | 17° | 1.5" | 9.3" | 10 | 9° – 33° |
| March | 40° | 25° | 1.7" | 5.0" | 10 | 22° – 46° |
| April | 53° | 34° | 3.1" | 1.6" | 12 | 36° – 49° |
| May | 65° | 45° | 3.3" | 0 | 12 | 47° – 60° |
| June | 75° | 55° | 3.3" | 0 | 10 | 60° – 70° |
| July | 80° | 60° | 3.3" | 0 | 9 | 64° – 74° |
| August | 78° | 59° | 3.3" | 0 | 11 | 63° – 73° |
| September | 72° | 52° | 3.0" | 0 | 10 | 56° – 66° |
| October | 59° | 42° | 2.9" | 0.1" | 12 | 46° – 57° |
| November | 46° | 32° | 2.3" | 3.1" | 13 | 31° – 45° |
| December | 35° | 23° | 1.9" | 9.0" | 13 | 18° – 38° |
| Year | 55° | 38° | 31.5" | 42.5" | 138 |
“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 McKinley
McKinley gets 31 inches of rain and melted snow a year. July is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 138 days a year.
About 163 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 5 and the first one by October 19. That leaves about 163 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 68% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in McKinley
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In McKinley, 94% of that work is heating and 6% 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.
McKinley and its neighbors
McKinley borders 4 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 1.6°. Chandler has the coldest January nights (15°) and Winsor the hottest July afternoons (81°). McKinley’s January low is 16° and its July high 80°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How McKinley 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 McKinley averaged 1.7° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+2.9°). The shift is larger than in 81% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at McKinley’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. February swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 9° to 33°. June is the most reliable, staying within 10°.
Common questions about McKinley’s climate
What is the coldest month in McKinley?
January, with a typical high of 29° and a low of 16°.
What is the hottest month in McKinley?
July, with a typical high of 80° and a low of 60°. About 6 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does McKinley get?
About 43 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in McKinley?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 19, and the last spring frost by May 5.
What is the rainiest month in McKinley?
July, with 3.3 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 31 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for McKinley itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Cass City 1 Ssw, MI (21 mi, snow) and Bad Axe, MI (16 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.