‹ Michigan weather by month

Michigan weather in December

The state broadly agrees with itself in December: afternoons run 33° in Traverse City and 33° in Mackinac Island, with everywhere else in between.

Based on 2 weather stations. Two stations in the vacation north — Detroit and the state’s southern tier run warmer than what’s here, and the Upper Peninsula colder.

Northwest Lower Michigan

Highs near 33°, nights around 22°, and 24.6 in of snow in a typical December.

Place Highs / lows Wet days Snow The short version
Traverse City 33° / 22° 13 24.6 in Lake-effect bands roll in and the season properly begins.

The Straits

Highs near 33°, nights around 18°, and 1.9 in of rain in a typical December.

Place Highs / lows Wet days The short version
Mackinac Island 33° / 18° 15 Ice in the harbor and the whole island to yourself.

Each place above has its own page for the full story — what the month feels like, what to pack, and whether the timing is right.

Where to go in December, across the whole country ›