Southfield, MI climate
Southfield has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 18°, and about 31 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Southfield feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Southfield 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 | 32° | 18° | 2.1" | 11.7" | 12 | 15° – 35° |
| February | 35° | 19° | 1.8" | 7.3" | 9 | 13° – 36° |
| March | 45° | 27° | 2.2" | 5.7" | 9 | 27° – 49° |
| April | 58° | 37° | 3.1" | 0.6" | 12 | 41° – 53° |
| May | 70° | 48° | 3.8" | 0 | 12 | 51° – 65° |
| June | 80° | 58° | 3.3" | 0 | 10 | 64° – 73° |
| July | 84° | 62° | 3.3" | 0 | 10 | 68° – 78° |
| August | 82° | 61° | 3.3" | 0 | 10 | 66° – 75° |
| September | 75° | 53° | 3.1" | 0 | 9 | 58° – 68° |
| October | 62° | 42° | 2.7" | 0 | 12 | 48° – 59° |
| November | 48° | 32° | 2.5" | 0.9" | 10 | 33° – 47° |
| December | 37° | 24° | 2.1" | 4.6" | 12 | 19° – 40° |
| Year | 59° | 40° | 33.2" | 30.8" | 127 |
“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 Southfield
Southfield gets 33 inches of rain and melted snow a year. May is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 127 days a year.
About 166 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 1 and the first one by October 15. That leaves about 166 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 64% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Southfield
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Southfield, 90% of that work is heating and 10% 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.
Southfield and its neighbors
Southfield borders 7 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 2.0°. Farmington Hills has the coldest January nights (17°) and Oak Park the hottest July afternoons (84°). Southfield’s January low is 18° and its July high 84°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Southfield 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 Southfield averaged 1.6° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.8°). The shift is larger than in 77% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Southfield’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 13° to 36°. June is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Common questions about Southfield’s climate
What is the coldest month in Southfield?
January, with a typical high of 32° and a low of 18°.
What is the hottest month in Southfield?
July, with a typical high of 84° and a low of 62°. About 16 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Southfield get?
About 31 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Southfield?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 15, and the last spring frost by May 1.
What is the rainiest month in Southfield?
May, with 3.8 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 33 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Southfield itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Dearborn, MI (11 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.