Detroit - Hottest Decades

Ranked here are the hottest decades on record for Detroit, Michigan. The lists include decades when Detroit had the highest average temperatures, the most hot days and the fewest cold days. These extremes are for temperatures observed at Detroit Metro Airport and cover six decades, from the 1960s to the 2010s.

That is when Detroit had weather measurements that are consistent and complete enough to compare decades. Each decade comprises a standard 10-year range. For instance, the 1990s includes measurements from Jan 1, 1990 to Dec 31, 1999. Links to the data behind these lists are in the References section on this page.

Hottest High Temperatures

Average daily maximum temperature at Detroit
High °F Decade High °C
Highest 59.9 2010s 15.5
Runner-up 59.2 1990s 15.1

Warmest Low Temperatures

Average daily minimum temperature at Detroit
Low °F Decade Low °C
Highest 42.5 2010s 5.9
Runner-up 41.9 2000s 5.5

Most Warm Days

Total days per year on average when Detroit had temperatures of at least 70 °F (21 °C)
Days Decade
Highest 147 2010s
Runner-up 141 2000s

Most Hot Days

Total days per year on average when Detroit had temperatures of at least 90 °F (32 °C)
Days Decade
Highest 16 2010s
Runner-up 13 1980s

Fewest Freezing Days

Total days per year on average when Detroit had temperatures of 32 °F (0 °C) or lower
Days Decade
Lowest 119 2010s
Runner-up 120 2000s

Fewest Cold Days

Total days per year on average when Detroit had temperatures of 0 °F (-18 °C) or lower
Days Decade
Lowest 3 2000s, 1990s
Runner-up 4 2010s

How Much Hotter are 2010s?

Compared with averages for the previous 50 years (1960 to 2009), the 2010s in Detroit had:

  • 4 more days each year with temperatures of 90 °F and higher
  • 1.5 °F higher daily maximum temperatures (0.8 °C)
  • 2.5 °F higher daily minimum temperatures (1.4 °C)
  • 12 fewer days a year with freezing temperatures
References

Current Results. 2020. Detroit MI Temperature Averages by Decade

Jay Lawrimore, Ron Ray, Scott Applequist, Bryant Korzeniewski, Matthew Menne. 2016. Global Summary of the Year, Version 1.0. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.

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