Weather in Portage, Michigan
Roses open along the stoops. Day 58 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
- TodayMay 16Overcast24%80°55°
- SundayMay 17Overcast11%82°61°
- MondayMay 18Drizzle70%81°64°
- TuesdayMay 19Showers86%78°60°
- WednesdayMay 20Overcast69%59°47°
- ThursdayMay 21Overcast—62°43°
- FridayMay 22Overcast12%67°41°
- PM 2.5
- 6.4 μg/m³
- PM 10
- 7.6 μg/m³
- NO₂
- 3.2 μg/m³
- Ozone
- 113.0 μg/m³
- UV Index
- 0.6 Low
Flowers blooming in late autumn, a sure sign of a bad winter coming.
- Moonrise
- 9:41 AM
- Moonset
- 12:09 AM
- In sign
- ♉︎ Taurus
Roses open along the stoops
Portage at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 7°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: April 29 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: 28 of 72, May 16–20
- Planting window: Direct sow okra, melons, and southern peas. Thin carrot rows.
Right now in the garden
Cool-season window is open
As of May 16, the cool-season window is open or about to open. Direct-sow peas, lettuce, spinach, radishes, and brassicas now. Hold off on warm-season crops until 1–2 weeks after the last spring frost (around May).
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | — | — |
| April | — | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | — | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
Portage's warmest month is July (~73°F mean) and its coldest is January (~25°F). Rainfall peaks in October (3.7 inches) and bottoms out in February (1.3 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25° | 1.7″ | 4 |
| February | 27° | 1.3″ | 4 |
| March | 37° | 2.0″ | 5 |
| April | 49° | 3.1″ | 7 |
| May | 60° | 3.7″ | 9 |
| June | 69° | 3.2″ | 6 |
| July | 73° | 3.4″ | 6 |
| August | 71° | 3.7″ | 6 |
| September | 63° | 3.3″ | 6 |
| October | 52° | 3.7″ | 7 |
| November | 40° | 2.5″ | 6 |
| December | 30° | 1.7″ | 4 |
Regional context
Portage sits within a warm-summer humid continental climate region — a cohort that shares similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions across nearby cities.
Similar climates: Detroit, MI, Grand Rapids, MI, Lansing, MI, Ann Arbor, MI, Flint, MI.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Portage?
- Portage's last spring frost typically falls around mid-May, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-October.
- What is the rainy season in Portage?
- October is the wettest month with about 3.7 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 33 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Portage?
- July is typically warmest, averaging about 73°F.
- What is the coldest month in Portage?
- January is typically coldest, averaging about 25°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Portage?
- Cool-season crops (peas, lettuce) can be sown around the last spring frost (mid-May); warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Portage get?
- Portage averages about 69 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Portage?
- Portage's USDA hardiness zone is determined by its lowest average winter temperature; check the USDA's online lookup with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
Portage, Michigan sits in a warm-summer humid continental climate zone. January means hover near 25°F while July averages 73°F — a 48°F seasonal swing.
Across the year, Portage receives about 33 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 69 rainy days.
The rhythm of the year is set by latitude (42.2°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation — all of which shape what grows here, when frost is likely, and what the weather story looks like day to day.