Best Places
There is a web site that claims to compare the best places to live, and the site has a city-to-city comparison. And one of the comparisons is the city’s climate. I will give you a few comparisons of other cities to Grand Rapids note that many of the “averages” on the site are not right. I have put the correct information for the locations according to the new 30-year averages at Grand Rapids. As to precipitation and snow fall. Each location is given a comfort level of 1 to 10 and a summary of those locations most comfortable months. Here in Grand Rapids as well as the rest of Michigan the summer months are the most comfortable and the wither one the least.
Grand Rapids vs Rapid City
On average, there are 158 sunny days per year in Grand Rapids. Rapid City averages 226 sunny days per year. The US average is 205 sunny days.
Grand Rapids, Michigan gets 37.3 inches of rain,(the current average is 39.4”) on average, per year. Rapid City, South Dakota gets 18.2 inches (17.44”) of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38.1 inches of rain per year.
Grand Rapids averages 64.2 inches (77.6”) of snow per year. Rapid City averages 38 inches(48.5”) of snow per year. The US average is 27.8 inches of snow per year.
Weather Highlights
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Summer High: the July high is around 82.2 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 17.6
Rain: averages 37.3 inches of rain a year (39.4)
Snow: averages 64.2 inches of snow a year (77.6)
Rapid City, South Dakota
Summer High: the July high is around 85.3 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 14.2
Rain: averages 18.2 inches of rain a year (17.44)
Snow: averages 38 inches of snow a year (48.5)
BESTPLACES COMFORT INDEX
Grand Rapids
The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Grand Rapids is 6.7 (10=best), which means it is more comfortable than most places in Michigan.
August, July and June are the most pleasant months in Grand Rapids, while January and December are the least comfortable months.
Rapid City
The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Rapid City is 7.0 (10=best), which means it is one of the most pleasant places in South Dakota.
August, July and June are the most pleasant months in Rapid City, while February and January are the least comfortable months.
I am not sure if the rating is a national or a state one but anyway both GR and Rapid City are amount the best places in their states.
Here is the comparison for GR to Fort Myers
On average, there are 271 sunny days per year in Fort Myers. Grand Rapids averages 158 sunny days per year. The US average is 205 sunny days.
Fort Myers, Florida gets 53.8 inches of rain, on average, per year. Grand Rapids, Michigan gets 37.3 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38.1 inches of rain per year.
Fort Myers averages 0 inches of snow per year. Grand Rapids averages 64.2 inches of snow per year. The US average is 27.8 inches of snow per year.
BESTPLACES COMFORT INDEX
Fort Myers
The annual Best Places Comfort Index for Fort Myers is 6.4 (10=best), which means it is less comfortable than most places in Florida.
December, March and February are the most pleasant months in Fort Myers, while August and July are the least comfortable months.
Grand Rapids
The annual Best Places Comfort Index for Grand Rapids is 6.7 (10=best), which means it is more comfortable than most places in Michigan.
August, July and June are the most pleasant months in Grand Rapids, while January and December are the least comfortable months.
Here is the web site if you want to play around with it for fun. Just remember that the averages given may not be correct or up to date. There has not been a recent 30 year average when the average snow fall at Grand Rapids has been 64.2” Unless they are using the meteorological winter numbers witch now stand at 60.6” for GR. Anyway here is that site
https://www.bestplaces.net/climate/
The official H/L yesterday at Grand Rapids was 73/60 there was no rainfall the highest wind speed was 30 MPH out of the W. The sun was out 65% of the time. Late yesterday afternoon when the clouds rolled in with the wind and clouds if really felt cool. For today the average H/L is 82/62 the record high of 98 was in 1944 the coolest high was 62 in 2012 the record low of 45 was in 1972 the warmest low of 75 was in 1900 the most rainfall of 1.80” fell in 2012.
For today a cool day is on tap and it looks like it may be one of the coolest August 10th on record here in Grand Rapids.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GRAND RAPIDS MI
315 AM EDT SAT AUG 10 2024
KEY MESSAGES
– BELOW NORMAL TEMPS THIS WEEKEND
– DRY WITH NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES MOST OF NEXT WEEK
DISCUSSION
ISSUED AT 315 AM EDT SAT AUG 10 2024
– BELOW NORMAL TEMPS THIS WEEKEND
GUSTY WNW WINDS AND FAIRLY EXTENSIVE STRATOCU TODAY (PARTICULARLY
OVER OUR NORTHERN/CENTRAL FCST AREA AS SUGGESTED BY 00Z HREF CLOUD
PROGS) WILL RESULT IN UNSEASONABLY COOL WX WITH HIGH TEMPS ONLY
REACHING THE UPPER 60S TO LOWER 70S. ISOLATED SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED
AS WELL WITH THE CYCLONIC FLOW AND LAKE INDUCED INSTABILITY.
HOWEVER MOISTURE IS LACKING SO ONLY LOW POPS ARE WARRANTED.
HIGH TEMPS SUNDAY WILL BE A FEW DEGREES MILDER REACHING THE MIDDLE
70S AND DRY WX IS EXPECTED GIVEN A BIT LESS IN TERMS OF LAKE
INDUCED INSTABILITY AND RATHER DRY AIRMASS IN PLACE. WEST WINDS
WILL INCREASE A BIT AGAIN BUT WILL NOT BE AS QUITE GUSTY AS
TODAY AS THE PRESSURE GRADIENT EASES UP A BIT BEGINS TO EASE UP A
BIT AS THE LOW MOVES FURTHER FROM OUR REGION.
– DRY WITH NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES MOST OF NEXT WEEK
STILL NO STRONGER SIGNALS IN LONGER RANGE GUIDANCE FOR RAINFALL
EVENTS OF ANY CONSEQUENCE. PWAT VALUES REMAIN ON THE LOW SIDE UNTIL
PERHAPS THE END OF NEXT WEEK INTO NEXT WEEKEND WHEN IT’S POSSIBLE AN
UPPER TROUGH OR CLOSED UPPER LOW WILL SET UP NEARBY. AT THIS TIME
ONLY 20 POPS ARE WARRANTED FOR THURSDAY AND BEYOND THOUGH.
TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE RIGHT AROUND NORMAL FOR MID AUGUST AS SURFACE
RIDGING DOMINATES, WITH HIGHS AROUND 80 AND LOWS 55-60. DEW POINTS
LOOK TO REMAIN THE 50S MOST OF NEXT WEEK SO COMFORTABLE HUMIDITY
LEVELS CONTINUING. THE PASSAGE OF WEAK SHORTWAVES ALOFT FROM TIME TO
TIME MAY PROVIDE SOME OCCASIONAL CLOUDIER PERIODS OTHERWISE A GOOD
DEAL OF SUNSHINE IS EXPECTED NEXT WEEK.
Detailed Forecast for Grand Rapids
Overnight
A chance of sprinkles. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55. West southwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday
A chance of sprinkles before 8am, then a slight chance of showers after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 71. Light west southwest wind becoming west 12 to 17 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southwest wind 5 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 75. Light and variable wind becoming west northwest 9 to 14 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night
Clear, with a low around 58. West wind 5 to 9 mph.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 80.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.
Thursday
Partly sunny, with a high near 83.
Thursday Night
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63.
Friday
A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Is that lake effect rain showers across northern lower Mi this morning? Very fall like out there.
In about 2 or 3 months it will be lake effect snow! Bring it!
The Fall feel is tremendous what a awesome cool Summer we are enjoying already seeing leafs changing colors in some places here is good ol GR get out and enjoy my friends have a awsome Saturday…INDY
Yes and this despite the warm weather fanatics telling us it would be a scorcher! Incredible!
Rapid City has the badlands but I prefer the greenery and the abundance of water here. We have the humidity, though. Florida is just too warm and humid for me. Our winters seem to be less harsh with each passing year. I think we will stay put – for awhile, at least.
FL is a hell hole! I would never live in Fl or anywhere in the South! Horrendous heat and humidity!