So, you’re thinking about moving to Tree Town, or maybe you’re just visiting for a game at the Big House and want to know if you’ll be shivering or sweating. Honestly, the weather in Ann Arbor MI is a bit of a chaotic masterpiece. It’s the kind of place where you can experience all four seasons in a single Tuesday afternoon.
If you ask a local, they’ll tell you "if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes." It’s a cliché, sure, but in Washtenaw County, it’s basically law.
The Humidity Factor Nobody Mentions
People focus on the snow. They obsess over the sub-zero wind chills. But let's talk about July.
Summer in Ann Arbor isn't just "warm." It is thick. Because the city is nestled away from the moderating breezes of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, it traps humidity like a greenhouse. You’ll walk out of your house at 8:00 AM and feel like you’ve been slapped with a warm, wet towel.
The average high in July sits around 83°F, but the dew point is the real killer. On days when the mercury hits 90°F—which happens about 9 to 10 times a year according to GLISA data—the heat index makes it feel like a swamp. You aren't just walking to the diag; you’re swimming through it.
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Winter Isn't Just Snow—It's Grey
Most outsiders picture a picturesque 24/7 snow globe. The reality of weather in Ann Arbor MI during January and February is a bit more... muted.
We get plenty of snow, averaging about 57 inches a year. Just recently, in mid-January 2026, a "highly localized band" dumped over 4 inches on the city in a matter of hours, causing over 400 school closures across the region. But the snow isn't the part that gets you. It’s the "Big Grey."
From November until roughly mid-March, the sun goes into hiding. The sky becomes a flat, Tupperware-lid shade of grey. If you're coming from California or Colorado, this is the part that actually messes with your head. Pro tip: invest in a SAD lamp and some Vitamin D. You’ll thank me in February.
The Seasons of Weather in Ann Arbor MI
Spring (The Great Tease)
March is a liar. You’ll get a 65°F day where everyone wears shorts and sits on the porch at Dominick’s, and then it’ll snow three inches the next morning. It’s a muddy, slushy mess.
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Summer (The Sweet Spot)
Aside from the humidity spikes, June and August are incredible. June 2025 saw its fair share of thunderstorms, with a heavy hitter on June 25th dropping over an inch of rain. These storms are loud, fast, and leave the air smelling like fresh cut grass and asphalt.
Fall (Why We Live Here)
If you could bottle October in Ann Arbor, you’d be a billionaire. The crisp air, the smell of woodsmoke, and the vibrant maples on Old West Side are world-class. It’s usually mid-60s during the day and "wear a hoodie" weather at night.
Winter (The Endurance Test)
January is officially the coldest month, with average lows hovering around 17°F to 18°F. But we’ve seen extremes. The record low is a bone-chilling -23°F. When those polar vortexes dip down, the wind coming off the Huron River will make your eyelashes freeze together.
Surviving the Washtenaw Deluge
We need to talk about rain. In August 2023, parts of the county saw nearly 5 inches of rain in just three hours. The Water Resources Commission called it a 500-year storm.
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The city’s infrastructure is old. When it pours like that, the streets turn into rivers. If you’re driving near the Tyler Road area or trying to get through the tunnels at DTW airport during a heavy cell, be careful. Hydroplaning is a very real thing here.
Practical Advice for the Ann Arbor Climate
Don't be the person who buys a massive Canada Goose parka and nothing else. You need layers.
- The Layering System: A moisture-wicking base, a fleece or wool mid-layer, and a windproof shell.
- The Boot Rule: If they aren't waterproof, don't wear them. "Slush happens," as the U-M International Center says.
- The Car Kit: Keep an ice scraper, a small shovel, and maybe some kitty litter (for traction) in your trunk from November to April.
If you're moving here, look into the Matthaei Botanical Gardens. When it's -5°F outside and you haven't seen a leaf in three months, their indoor conservatory is a literal lifesaver. It’s free to enter (just pay for parking), and it feels like the tropics.
Honestly, the weather in Ann Arbor MI builds character. Or at least, it gives us something to complain about while we wait for the next beautiful fall Saturday.
Next Steps for You:
Check your tire tread depth before the first frost hits in late October. If your tires are balding, the black ice on Washtenaw Avenue will find you. Also, if you’re a homeowner, schedule your AC tune-up in April—don’t wait for the June heatwave when every HVAC tech in town is booked solid for three weeks.