Updated October 2026
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Weather by Month
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is warmest in July, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 77°F and a low of 56°F, and coldest in January, with an average high of 22°F and an average low of 7°F. July is the wettest month, with about 4.1 inches of precipitation. Snowfall is heaviest in January, at about 30 inches.
These figures are NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, the 30-year average for each calendar month, from the nearest long-record weather station, 9.2 miles from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in Apostle Islands National Lakeshore can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Jul
77°F avg high
Coldest month
Jan
7°F avg low
Wettest month
Jul
4.1 in avg
Snowiest month
Jan
29.5 in avg
Longest days
Jun
15.7 h of daylight
Average weather at Apostle Islands by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precipitation | Snowfall | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22°F | 7°F | 1.7 in | 29.5 in | 8.7 h |
| February | 26°F | 8°F | 1.1 in | 15.8 in | 10.0 h |
| March | 37°F | 18°F | 1.6 in | 14.6 in | 11.6 h |
| April | 49°F | 30°F | 3.1 in | 5.1 in | 13.4 h |
| May | 63°F | 41°F | 3.5 in | 0.8 in | 14.8 h |
| June | 71°F | 49°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in | 15.7 h |
| July | 77°F | 56°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in | 15.3 h |
| August | 76°F | 56°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in | 14.0 h |
| September | 68°F | 48°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in | 12.3 h |
| October | 54°F | 38°F | 3.2 in | 1.0 in | 10.6 h |
| November | 40°F | 26°F | 2.4 in | 13.3 in | 9.1 h |
| December | 28°F | 15°F | 1.9 in | 26.2 in | 8.3 h |
| Year total | 33.2 in | 106.3 in |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USC00470603, 9.2 miles from the park's reference point. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded Apostle Islands is at that time of year.
Apostle Islands weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs bottom out at 22°F in January, between 28°F in December and 26°F in February, with average lows between 7°F and 15°F. The average high stays at or below freezing in all three months. Together the three months average 4.7 inches of precipitation, about 14% of the yearly total and less than in any other season. Snowfall averages about 72 inches for the season. Daylight is at its shortest, about 8.3 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 37°F in March to 63°F in May, with average lows between 18°F and 41°F. The average low is at or below freezing in March and April. Together the three months average 8.2 inches of precipitation, about 25% of the yearly total. Snowfall averages about 21 inches for the season, most of it in March. Daylight lengthens from about 11.6 hours in March to 14.8 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs peak at 77°F in July, between 71°F in June and 76°F in August, with average lows between 49°F and 56°F. Together the three months average 11 inches of precipitation, about 33% of the yearly total and more than in any other season. Daylight is at its longest, about 15.7 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 68°F in September to 40°F in November, with average lows between 26°F and 48°F. The average low is at or below freezing in November. Together the three months average 9.3 inches of precipitation, about 28% of the yearly total. Snowfall averages about 14 inches for the season, most of it in November. Daylight shortens from about 12.3 hours in September to 9.1 in November.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Lake Superior is renowned for its cold temperatures, rough seas, fog, and sudden squalls. Boaters and paddlers should monitor marine weather forecasts and be constantly alert to changing conditions. Average daytime high temperatures range from 60 degrees Fahrenheit in May, to the upper 80s in mid-summer, to the mid-60s in September. Average lows vary from 40 degrees in May, to the upper 50s in mid-summer, to 50 degrees in September. Average water temperatures in May and June are only in the 40s.
Weather description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for Apostle Islands
Averages describe a typical month, not this week. For current conditions and the seven-day outlook, the National Weather Service issues a forecast for the park's reference point at 46.96°N, 90.66°W. It covers that one spot, so other elevations in the park can differ from it, as they do from the averages above.
National Weather Service forecast for Apostle Islands National Lakeshore →
Weather and crowds together
July, the warmest month, sees about 2.9× the visitors of the park's average month. August is the busiest month of the year and December the quietest. To see those crowds set against the weather for all twelve months, read the best time to visit Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near Apostle Islands.
Where to stay near Apostle Islands
Picked a month for Apostle Islands National Lakeshore? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Apostle Islands
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Frequently Asked Questions
July is the warmest month at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, with an average high of 77°F and an average low of 56°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 9.2 miles from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
January is the coldest month at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, with an average low of 7°F and an average high of 22°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
July is the wettest month, with about 4.1 inches of precipitation. February is the driest, at about 1.1 inches. The station records about 33.2 inches of precipitation in an average year.
Yes. The nearest long-record NOAA station, 9.2 miles from the park's reference point, averages about 106 inches of snow a year. January is the snowiest month, at about 30 inches. The station averages at least a tenth of an inch of snow in 8 of the 12 months.
Weather at nearby parks
83 mi away · warmest in July (74°F)
102 mi away · warmest in July (75°F)
119 mi away · warmest in July (81°F)
146 mi away · warmest in July (78°F)
Keep exploring
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USC00470603), daylight computed from latitude, weather description from the National Park Service, crowd levels from National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1979–2025). Updated 2026-10-11. Lodging results are provided by Stay22; WhenToVisitParks may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.