Comfort Index

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. As to precipitation and snow fall.  Each location is given a comfort level of 1 to 10 and a summery 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 BestPlaces 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 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.

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/

Slim