Michiganders often wait impatiently for a late January “thaw,” but this year the warmup came early and we’ve been stuck in a deep freeze for more than two weeks.
Much of Michigan saw near-record or record warmth in mid-January, but since that fast warmup we’ve seen temperatures go in the opposite direction. It hasn’t been above freezing anywhere in Michigan since Jan. 14 and likely won’t top that magic temperature until at least Friday — longer for many northern locations.
Here’s a look at the last time Michigan cities saw above-freezing temperatures.
When was it above freezing in the Upper Peninsula?
The Marquette area reached its highest temperature of the month on Jan. 12 — 36 degrees — and 35 degrees on Jan. 13. Temperatures dropped the 15 degrees on Jan. 14 have fallen as low as minus 27 on Jan. 25.
Ironwood topped out at 42 degrees on Jan. 13 and then 36 on Jan. 14 before temperatures plummeted. The western U.P. city dropped to minus 30 on Jan. 24 and 25 and hasn’t been above 26 degrees since.
At the eastern end of the U.P., Sault Ste Marie recorded 40 degrees on Jan. 9. The city hit 35 degrees on Jan. 14 and hasn’t been above 26 since. Temperatures fell to minus 23 on Jan. 24, 25 and 30.
When was the last time it was above freezing in northern Michigan?
Alpena hit 53 degrees on Jan. 9. The city was 37 degrees on Jan. 13-14 and has been as low as minus 18 on Jan. 24.
In Gaylord, the high for January was 48 on Jan. 9. The temperature was 34 on Jan. 14, but hasn’t been above freezing since, and has fallen to as low as minus 5 on Jan. 24.
Traverse City his 53 degrees on back-to-back days, Jan. 9-10, and reached 38 degrees on Jan. 14. Since then, it hasn’t topped 28 degrees and fell to a low of minus 6 on Jan. 24.
Manistee, located on Lake Michigan, topped out at 58 degrees on Jan. 9. The city reported 35 degrees on Jan. 19. Since then, it hasn’t topped 24 degrees and reported lows of minus 5 on Jan. 23-24.
When was it above freezing in west Michigan?
Grand Rapids reached 60 degrees on Jan. 9 and was at 32 degrees on Jan. 17. The city’s low was minus 19 on Jan. 24 and it hasn’t been warmer than 28 degrees since Jan. 21.
Kalamazoo was 60 degrees on Jan. 9 as well. It reached 32 degrees on Jan. 17 and 30 degrees on Jan. 21. The low for the month was minus 18 on Jan. 24.
Battle Creek recorded 59 degrees on Jan. 9. The city last hit freezing on Jan. 17 at 32 degrees. The low was minus 19 on Jan. 24.
When did mid-Michigan hit freezing?
Lansing’s high for the month was 60 degrees on Jan. 9. The city was 34 degrees on Jan. 16-17, but hasn’t been warmer than 29 since Jan. 21. The coldest mark for the month was minus 16 on Jan. 24.
Flint’s high for the month was 59 degrees on Jan. 9. After dropping as low as 19, the city was at 33 degrees on Jan. 17. Its low for the month was minus 24 on Jan. 24.
Saginaw recorded 58 degrees on Jan. 9. It later reached 33 degrees on Jan. 16-17. Since then, the high has been 28 on Jan. 21. The low on Jan. 24 was minus 12.
When was the last time southeast Michigan was above freezing?
Detroit topped out at 60 degrees on Jan. 9. The city hit 33 degrees on Jan. 17 and 21. It also posted a minus 10 degree low on Jan. 24.
Adrian’s high in January was 59 degrees on Jan. 9. The city was 34 degrees on Jan. 21 and 31 degrees on the 22nd. Days later, the low for the month was minus 12 on Jan. 24.
Ann Arbor’s high for January was 59 on Jan. 9. The city reached 32 degrees on Jan. 16-17. The low of minus 21 came on Jan. 24.
Port Huron’s high for the month was 57 degrees on Jan. 9. It reached 34 degrees on Jan. 12. Additional data was not listed on the NWS website.
Jackson’s high in January was 58 degrees on Jan. 9. The last time the city was at freezing was Jan. 17 when it hit 32 degrees. The low for the month, on Jan. 24, was minus 18.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: When was the last time we were above freezing? Highs, lows in January
Reporting by Dan Basso, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
