Updated October 2026
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Weather by Month
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is warmest in July, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 80°F and a low of 57°F, and coldest in February, with an average high of 31°F and an average low of 16°F. October is the wettest month, with about 4.5 inches of precipitation. Snowfall is heaviest in January, at about 45 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, 10.7 miles from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Jul
80°F avg high
Coldest month
Feb
16°F avg low
Wettest month
Oct
4.5 in avg
Snowiest month
Jan
44.5 in avg
Longest days
Jun
15.4 h of daylight
Average weather at Sleeping Bear Dunes by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precipitation | Snowfall | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29°F | 16°F | 2.8 in | 44.5 in | 9.0 h |
| February | 31°F | 16°F | 1.9 in | 27.5 in | 10.2 h |
| March | 41°F | 22°F | 2.0 in | 14.3 in | 11.6 h |
| April | 53°F | 31°F | 2.9 in | 6.4 in | 13.3 h |
| May | 67°F | 42°F | 3.1 in | 0.2 in | 14.6 h |
| June | 76°F | 52°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in | 15.4 h |
| July | 80°F | 57°F | 2.7 in | 0.0 in | 15.1 h |
| August | 78°F | 57°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in | 13.9 h |
| September | 71°F | 50°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in | 12.3 h |
| October | 58°F | 40°F | 4.5 in | 0.5 in | 10.7 h |
| November | 45°F | 30°F | 3.2 in | 13.9 in | 9.3 h |
| December | 34°F | 22°F | 2.7 in | 36.0 in | 8.6 h |
| Year total | 35.7 in | 143.3 in |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USC00205097, 10.7 miles from the park's reference point. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded Sleeping Bear Dunes is at that time of year.
Sleeping Bear Dunes weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs bottom out at 29°F in January, between 34°F in December and 31°F in February, with average lows between 16°F and 22°F. The average low is at or below freezing in all three months. Together the three months average 7.4 inches of precipitation, about 21% of the yearly total and less than in any other season. Snowfall averages about 108 inches for the season. Daylight is at its shortest, about 8.6 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 41°F in March to 67°F in May, with average lows between 22°F and 42°F. The average low is at or below freezing in March and April. Together the three months average 8 inches of precipitation, about 22% 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 14.6 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs peak at 80°F in July, between 76°F in June and 78°F in August, with average lows between 52°F and 57°F. Together the three months average 8.5 inches of precipitation, about 24% of the yearly total. Daylight is at its longest, about 15.4 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 71°F in September to 45°F in November, with average lows between 30°F and 50°F. The average low is at or below freezing in November. Together the three months average 11.8 inches of precipitation, about 33% of the yearly total and more than in any other season. Snowfall averages about 14 inches for the season, most of it in November. Daylight shortens from about 12.3 hours in September to 9.3 in November.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Spring: Temperatures usually range from 40 F to 70 F. Rain is common. Summer: Temperatures usually range from from 50 F to 83 F. Rain and sun are equally common. On very sunny days, be prepared with plenty of water--heat exhaustion is common, especially when hiking on the dunes. Fall: Temperatures range from 40 F to 70 F. Fall foliage is at its peak around mid September. Winter: Temperatures range from 15 F to 40 F. Snow is common and is on the ground for most of the winter. Dress in warm layers.
Weather description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for Sleeping Bear Dunes
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 44.93°N, 86.03°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 Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore →
Weather and crowds together
July is both the warmest month and the busiest, with about 3.6× the visitors of the park's average month. December is the quietest. To see those crowds set against the weather for all twelve months, read the best time to visit Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Where to stay near Sleeping Bear Dunes
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Frequently Asked Questions
July is the warmest month at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, with an average high of 80°F and an average low of 57°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 10.7 miles from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
February is the coldest month at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, with an average low of 16°F and an average high of 31°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
October is the wettest month, with about 4.5 inches of precipitation. February is the driest, at about 1.9 inches. The station records about 35.7 inches of precipitation in an average year.
Yes. The nearest long-record NOAA station, 10.7 miles from the park's reference point, averages about 143 inches of snow a year. January is the snowiest month, at about 45 inches. The station averages at least a tenth of an inch of snow in 8 of the 12 months.
Weather at nearby parks
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Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USC00205097), 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.