Updated October 2026
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Weather by Month
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is warmest in August, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 75°F and a low of 56°F, and coldest in February, with an average high of 27°F and an average low of 13°F.
These figures are NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, the 30-year average for each calendar month, from the nearest long-record weather station, 18.8 miles from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Aug
75°F avg high
Coldest month
Feb
13°F avg low
Longest days
Jun
15.6 h of daylight
Average weather at Pictured Rocks by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24°F | 14°F | 8.8 h |
| February | 27°F | 13°F | 10.1 h |
| March | 37°F | 20°F | 11.6 h |
| April | 48°F | 28°F | 13.3 h |
| May | 61°F | 40°F | 14.8 h |
| June | 70°F | 48°F | 15.6 h |
| July | 75°F | 55°F | 15.3 h |
| August | 75°F | 56°F | 14.0 h |
| September | 68°F | 50°F | 12.3 h |
| October | 55°F | 39°F | 10.6 h |
| November | 41°F | 29°F | 9.1 h |
| December | 31°F | 20°F | 8.4 h |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USW00014859, 18.8 miles from the park's reference point. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded Pictured Rocks is at that time of year.
Pictured Rocks weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs bottom out at 24°F in January, between 31°F in December and 27°F in February, with average lows between 13°F and 20°F. The average high stays at or below freezing in all three months. Daylight is at its shortest, about 8.4 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 37°F in March to 61°F in May, with average lows between 20°F and 40°F. The average low is at or below freezing in March and April. Daylight lengthens from about 11.6 hours in March to 14.8 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs climb from 70°F in June to 75°F in August, with average lows between 48°F and 56°F. Daylight is at its longest, about 15.6 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 68°F in September to 41°F in November, with average lows between 29°F and 50°F. The average low is at or below freezing 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
Summers are pleasant with the average highs in June, July, and August in the 70s°F, and lows in the low 50s°F. The coldest months are December through March with average highs of 25°F to 32°F, and average lows in the teens. Annual precipitation averages 31 inches; average annual snowfall is about 140 inches, although winters with more than 200 inches are not uncommon. Snow generally covers the ground from late November through late April.
Weather description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for Pictured Rocks
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 46.56°N, 86.32°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 Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore →
Weather and crowds together
August, the warmest month, sees about 2.9× the visitors of the park's average month. July 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 Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near Pictured Rocks.
Where to stay near Pictured Rocks
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Frequently Asked Questions
August is the warmest month at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, with an average high of 75°F and an average low of 56°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 18.8 miles from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
February is the coldest month at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, with an average low of 13°F and an average high of 27°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
Daylight at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore runs from about 8.4 hours a day in December to about 15.6 hours in June, computed from the park's latitude.
Weather at nearby parks
Keep exploring
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USW00014859), 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.