Pentwater has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers
A typical July afternoon reaches 78°, a January night drops to 18°, and about 79 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
A year in Pentwater at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Pentwater’s climate
Read from where Pentwater sits among Michigan’s towns. The page puts what stands out first.
What a year in Pentwater feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
79 inches of snow, 35 of rain and melt
October is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 137 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
About 144 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 17 and the first by October 7.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
Living with Pentwater’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a driveway, a furnace and a free afternoon.
144 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 7.
About 79" a winter over 29 days with an inch or more, most in January. Snow covers the ground about 82 days a year.
Months averaging under 55° run from October through May. Heating is 95% of the year’s heating-and-cooling load.
About 5 days a year reach 90°, and July afternoons average 78°.
The nicest months are May, June, July, August and September. 3.8 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Normals are averages. Ice storms, nor’easters, floods and heat waves are on the natural hazards page.
Natural hazards →Pentwater and its neighbors
Pentwater has the coldest January nights next door (18°) and Pentwater the hottest July afternoons (78°). Tap a town to see its climate.
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.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Pentwater averaged 1.6° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+3.0°).
A bigger shift than in 77% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
How Pentwater compares
Against every U.S. town on TownTapestry, each counted once, with its place in Michigan.
Pentwater 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 | 30° | 18° | 2.2" | 26.4" | 16 | 26 | 14° – 33° |
| February | 32° | 19° | 1.7" | 20.0" | 13 | 23 | 13° – 34° |
| March | 41° | 25° | 2.0" | 5.9" | 9 | 10 | 23° – 48° |
| April | 53° | 34° | 3.4" | 1.1" | 12 | 1 | 35° – 49° |
| May | 65° | 44° | 3.6" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 47° – 60° |
| June | 74° | 54° | 3.5" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 59° – 70° |
| July | 78° | 59° | 3.1" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 63° – 75° |
| August | 77° | 59° | 3.2" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 63° – 73° |
| September | 70° | 52° | 3.1" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 55° – 66° |
| October | 58° | 42° | 3.9" | 0.1" | 13 | 0 | 46° – 56° |
| November | 45° | 32° | 3.1" | 5.4" | 13 | 4 | 31° – 45° |
| December | 34° | 24° | 2.4" | 19.6" | 14 | 19 | 20° – 38° |
| Year | 55° | 38° | 35.2" | 78.5" | 137 | 82 |
Heating and cooling a home in Pentwater
95% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
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.
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. March swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 23° to 48°. August is the most reliable, staying within 10°.
Common questions about Pentwater’s climate
What is the coldest month in Pentwater?
January, with a typical high of 30° and a low of 18°.
What is the hottest month in Pentwater?
July, with a typical high of 78° and a low of 59°. About 5 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Pentwater get?
About 79 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Pentwater?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 7, and the last spring frost by May 17.
What is the rainiest month in Pentwater?
October, with 3.9 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 35 inches.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Pentwater.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Pentwater itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Hart 3 Wsw, MI (7 mi, snow) and Ludington 4 Se, MI (9 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.