Weather in Sterling Heights, Michigan
Roses open along the stoops. Day 58 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
- TodayMay 16Drizzle31%81°53°
- SundayMay 17Overcast20%87°61°
- MondayMay 18Overcast20%88°63°
- TuesdayMay 19Light Showers75%88°68°
- WednesdayMay 20Drizzle57%70°47°
- ThursdayMay 21Overcast—63°44°
- FridayMay 22Light Drizzle12%67°47°
- PM 2.5
- 7.3 μg/m³
- PM 10
- 8.7 μg/m³
- NO₂
- 4.9 μg/m³
- Ozone
- 127.0 μg/m³
- UV Index
- 0.5 Low
Flowers blooming in late autumn, a sure sign of a bad winter coming.
- Moonrise
- 9:29 AM
- Moonset
- 12:00 AM
- In sign
- ♉︎ Taurus
Roses open along the stoops
Sterling Heights at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 9°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: May 1 (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
Sterling Heights's warmest month is July (~74°F mean) and its coldest is January (~26°F). Rainfall peaks in May (3.7 inches) and bottoms out in February (2.1 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26° | 2.1″ | 7 |
| February | 28° | 2.1″ | 7 |
| March | 37° | 2.5″ | 8 |
| April | 48° | 3.2″ | 11 |
| May | 59° | 3.7″ | 12 |
| June | 69° | 3.7″ | 12 |
| July | 74° | 3.4″ | 11 |
| August | 72° | 3.5″ | 12 |
| September | 65° | 3.0″ | 10 |
| October | 53° | 2.8″ | 9 |
| November | 41° | 2.6″ | 9 |
| December | 31° | 2.4″ | 8 |
Regional context
Sterling Heights 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.
Naturalist notes
By mid-May, common milkweed stems push through the soil as the last frost retreats, timed with the arrival of monarch butterflies completing their northward migration.
Late May twilight often aligns with the first evening lightning bug displays of the season, flickering low over lawns and field edges as air temperatures stay above 50°F.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Sterling Heights?
- Sterling Heights's last spring frost typically falls around mid-May, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-October.
- What is the rainy season in Sterling Heights?
- May is the wettest month with about 3.7 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 35 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Sterling Heights?
- July is typically warmest, averaging about 74°F.
- What is the coldest month in Sterling Heights?
- January is typically coldest, averaging about 26°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Sterling Heights?
- 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 Sterling Heights get?
- Sterling Heights averages about 116 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Sterling Heights?
- Sterling Heights'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
Sterling Heights, Michigan falls within a warm-summer humid continental climate zone. January means settle near 26°F while July averages 74°F — a 48°F seasonal swing.
Over the course of a year, Sterling Heights collects about 35 inches of precipitation across roughly 116 rainy days.
Latitude (42.6°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation set the annual rhythm, shaping what grows, when frost is likely, and the day-to-day weather story.