Rock River Township gets about 164 inches of snow a winter, more than all but 39 U.S. towns
Sunny July days climb to about 78°. In July, afternoons here are cooler than in 96% of U.S. towns. February has warmed most since 1901–2000, part of a 1.4° rise. Central heating does most of its work from October to April, in months below 50° on average.
A year in Rock River Township at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Rock River Township’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Rock River Township’s place in Michigan beside it.
What a year in Rock River Township feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 119 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 30 and the first by September 27. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Chatham Exp Farm 2, MI, 3 miles from the town’s center, 120 ft lower.
The 2023 USDA map puts Rock River Township’s center in zone 5a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about −18°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 164 inches of snow a winter
Snow, measured at Chatham Exp Farm 2, MI, falls mostly in January. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 35 inches a year; October is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 172 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Heating and cooling a home in Rock River Township
97% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner. Months averaging under 55° run from October through May.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Chatham Exp Farm 2, MI.
Living with Rock River Township’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
119 frost-free days in zone 5a. The last frost comes by May 30 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Sep 27.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: June, July, August and September. 35 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Rock River Township from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (58%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 13%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Rock River Township and its neighbors
Limestone Township the hottest July afternoons (79°, 1° warmer). Differences under a degree are within what the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.
Climates most like Rock River Township’s, farther away
TownRatings’ own comparison of NOAA 1991–2020 normals, not a NOAA product: places of 5,000+ at least 150 miles away, one per state, closest on January low, July high, precipitation and snow.
| Town | Jan. low | July high | Precip. | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock River Township, MI | 9° | 78° | 35" | 164" |
| Lyndon, VT | 5° | 79° | 41" | 142" |
| Wilna, NY | 8° | 79° | 42" | 127" |
| Summit Park, UT | 19° | 79° | 30" | 153" |
| Caribou, ME | 2° | 77° | 41" | 118" |
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 Rock River Township averaged 1.4° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+2.3°).
A bigger shift than in 56% 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 Rock River Township compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Rock River Township’s place among Michigan’s.
Rock River Township weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Rock River Township’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Chatham Exp Farm 2, MI. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24° | 9° | 2.5" | 45.6" | 20 | 30 | 5° – 26° |
| February | 27° | 9° | 1.7" | 29.7" | 14 | 28 | 5° – 30° |
| March | 37° | 16° | 1.8" | 18.6" | 12 | 26 | 16° – 39° |
| April | 49° | 28° | 2.8" | 11.8" | 11 | 8 | 31° – 46° |
| May | 64° | 39° | 3.2" | 0.6" | 13 | 0 | 45° – 56° |
| June | 73° | 49° | 3.4" | 0.0" | 12 | 0 | 57° – 66° |
| July | 78° | 54° | 3.8" | 0.0" | 13 | 0 | 60° – 71° |
| August | 76° | 54° | 3.1" | 0.0" | 12 | 0 | 60° – 68° |
| September | 68° | 47° | 3.9" | 0.0" | 15 | 0 | 52° – 62° |
| October | 54° | 36° | 3.9" | 2.5" | 17 | 1 | 40° – 51° |
| November | 40° | 25° | 3.0" | 18.9" | 15 | 11 | 25° – 40° |
| December | 29° | 15° | 2.4" | 36.3" | 17 | 25 | 13° – 31° |
| Year | 52° | 32° | 35.3" | 164.0" | 172 | 129 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 5° to 30°. August is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Where Rock River 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 Rock River Township’s center.
- Snow: Chatham Exp Farm 2, MI.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Chatham Exp Farm 2, MI, 3 miles from the town’s center, 120 ft lower; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
- 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 Rock River Township’s climate
What is the weather like in Rock River Township?
A typical July afternoon reaches 78°, a January night drops to 9°, and about 164 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Colder January nights than 95% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 96% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Rock River Township in winter?
February nights average 9°. About 193 nights a year reach 32° or below and 27 reach 0° or below. In the coldest February of the last 30 years the month averaged 5°.
How much snow does Rock River Township get?
About 164 inches in a normal winter at Chatham Exp Farm 2, MI, most of it in January, with snow on the ground about 129 days a year.
How hot does it get in Rock River Township?
July, with a typical high of 78° and a low of 54°. About 5 days a year reach 90° (Chatham Exp Farm 2, MI).
When is the first and last frost in Rock River Township?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by May 30 and the first fall frost by September 27, about 119 frost-free days, at Chatham Exp Farm 2, MI.
What growing zone is Rock River Township in?
Zone 5a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −18°.
What is the best time of year to visit Rock River 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 Rock River Township getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.4° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 56% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Rock River 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.