If you've ever spent a week in Lenawee County, you know the local running joke: if you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes. It’ll change. Honestly, that’s not even an exaggeration when you're talking about the weather in Addison Michigan. One morning you're scraping a thick layer of frost off your windshield, and by 3:00 PM, you’re considering whether it’s finally warm enough to take the boat out on Devil’s Lake.
Addison sits in that sweet spot of Southern Michigan where the Great Lakes influence everything, but we’re just far enough inland to miss the worst of the "lake effect" snow that buries places like Grand Rapids or Muskegon. Still, we get our fair share of the gray. January is basically a month-long ceiling of clouds, with the sun only popping out about 39% of the time. It’s the kind of weather that makes you appreciate a good thermos and a heavy flannel shirt.
What the Seasons Actually Feel Like
Most people look at a chart and see "average highs of 32°F in January." That doesn't tell the whole story. January in Addison is a grind. You've got an average low of about 15°F, but when that wind kicks up across the open fields, the wind chill makes it feel like you’re standing in a walk-in freezer. We usually see around 11 inches of snow just in that month alone. It’s beautiful for about a day, then it’s just something you have to shovel before work.
Spring is... well, it’s indecisive. April is the month of "fool's spring." You’ll get a 65-degree day where everyone rushes to the garden center, followed immediately by three days of 38-degree rain and maybe a stray flurry. It’s muddy. It’s wet. May is actually the wettest month of the year here, averaging about 4 inches of rain. If you’re planning to visit, bring waterproof boots. You’ll need them.
📖 Related: How Far is Chattanooga Tennessee? What Most People Get Wrong
Summer is where Addison really shines. July is the peak, with highs hitting around 84°F. It gets humid, sure, but nothing like the swampy heat you’d find down South. It’s perfect lake weather. Most days are clear or just have those big, puffy "Simpsons" clouds. You get about 10.5 hours of solid sunshine a day in July, which is the best you're going to get all year.
The Breakdown of Temperatures
To give you a better idea of what to pack, here is a look at the typical highs and lows throughout the year:
- Winter (Dec–Feb): Highs stay in the low 30s; lows dip to the mid-teens. This is the "gray season."
- Spring (Mar–May): Temperatures climb from the 40s to the 70s. Expect a lot of "mix" days where it rains, then sleets, then clears up.
- Summer (Jun–Aug): Highs usually hover between 80°F and 84°F. Perfect for the outdoors.
- Fall (Sep–Nov): September is arguably the best month, with highs around 75°F. By November, you're back down to the high 40s and waiting for the first real snow.
Dealing with the Extremes
We don’t get many hurricanes obviously, but we do get the remnants of them. Back in July 2024, the remnants of Hurricane Beryl dumped a ton of rain on Southern Michigan, causing some localized flooding. And then there are the tornadoes. While Addison isn't exactly in "Tornado Alley," Lenawee County has a history with them. Everyone around here still talks about the Palm Sunday outbreak of 1965, which remains one of the most devastating weather events in Michigan's history.
👉 See also: Navigating the Map Blue Line Chicago: Why You’ll Probably Get Lost (and How to Avoid It)
Modern storms are more about high winds and hail. You’ll get these fast-moving summer thunderstorms that roll in off the fields, turn the sky a weird shade of bruised purple, and drop quarter-sized hail before vanishing twenty minutes later. It’s dramatic, sort of scary, and then suddenly the birds are singing again.
When Should You Actually Visit?
If you're coming for the "Michigan Experience," aim for late September or early October. The humidity is gone, the bugs have mostly died off (the mosquitoes in June can be brutal), and the fall colors start hitting the trees around the local lakes. It’s crisp. You can wear a hoodie during the day and sit by a fire at night.
If you’re a glutton for punishment or want to test if you can handle living here, come in February. It’s the "inner circle of hell" phase of winter where everything is gray, the snow is turned into brown slush by road salt, and you haven't seen the sun in three weeks. If you love it then, you’ll love it forever.
Practical Tips for Addison Weather
- The Layer Rule: Never trust the morning temperature. Wear a base layer you can strip down to when the sun finally hits the pavement at noon.
- Tire Prep: If you’re here in winter, all-season tires are the bare minimum. Front-wheel drive is fine, but you’ll want some weight in the back if you’re driving a truck on the backroads near Somerset.
- Sun Protection: Because it’s often breezy, you won’t feel the sun burning you while you’re out on the water. Trust me, use the SPF 30.
- Basement Awareness: If you’re staying in a rental and the sirens go off, head to the lowest point. Michigan takes its severe weather sirens seriously.
The weather in Addison Michigan is basically a four-act play. Winter is the long intro, spring is the chaotic middle, summer is the hero's journey, and fall is the perfect resolution. It keeps life interesting. You never get bored when the sky is constantly reinventing itself.
🔗 Read more: Zehnder's Splash Village Day Pass: What Most People Get Wrong
Actionable Next Steps
Check the current NOAA radar for Lenawee County before heading out, especially during the spring "line storm" season. If you are planning a summer trip to the nearby lakes, keep an eye on the humidity index; anything over 70% means you should plan for indoor activities during the mid-afternoon heat. For those moving to the area, invest in a high-quality snow blower rather than relying on a shovel; your back will thank you when the January "clippers" start rolling through.