Passage Island Light Station · Photo: US Coast Guard · Public domainFew U.S. towns have cooler summers than Houghton Township
On a normal January night the air cools to about 4°. Winter nights are cold: in January they are colder than in almost every U.S. town. Warming shows here too: 1.6° more than in 1901–2000, led by February. Radiators earn their keep from October to May, the months that average under 50°.
A year in Houghton Township at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Houghton Township’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Houghton Township’s place in Michigan beside it.
What a year in Houghton Township feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 30 inches of rain a year
July is the wettest month and March the driest.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Living with Houghton Township’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
Zone 5a.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: June, July, August and September. 188 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Houghton Township from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (95%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 3%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Houghton Township and its neighbors
Sherman Township the hottest July afternoons (76°, 3° warmer). Differences under a degree are within what the 5 km grid can tell apart. 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 Houghton Township averaged 1.6° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+3.0°).
A bigger shift than in 63% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How Houghton Township compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Houghton Township’s place among Michigan’s.
Houghton Township weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Houghton Township’s center. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20° | 4° | 2.0" | −1° – 23° |
| February | 24° | 5° | 1.4" | 2° – 28° |
| March | 34° | 14° | 1.4" | 14° – 36° |
| April | 46° | 26° | 2.2" | 30° – 43° |
| May | 58° | 37° | 2.9" | 43° – 52° |
| June | 67° | 47° | 3.1" | 53° – 61° |
| July | 73° | 53° | 3.5" | 57° – 67° |
| August | 73° | 53° | 3.0" | 58° – 66° |
| September | 65° | 46° | 3.1" | 49° – 61° |
| October | 51° | 35° | 3.2" | 37° – 48° |
| November | 38° | 24° | 2.3" | 20° – 40° |
| December | 27° | 12° | 2.2" | 8° – 28° |
| Year | 48° | 30° | 30.2" |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 2° to 28°. June is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Where Houghton Township’s numbers come from
Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →
- Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Houghton Township’s center.
- Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
- Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).
Common questions about Houghton Township’s climate
What is the weather like in Houghton Township?
A typical July afternoon reaches 73°, a January night drops to 4°. Colder January nights than all but 156 U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than all but 141 U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Houghton Township in winter?
January nights average 4°. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged −1°.
How hot does it get in Houghton Township?
July, with a typical high of 73°. 90° days are rare.
What growing zone is Houghton Township in?
Zone 5a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −19°.
What is the best time of year to visit Houghton Township?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), June, July, August and September. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Houghton Township getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.6° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 63% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Houghton Township.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.