AI-generatedGrand Rapids at a glance
- Best time
- May – Sep
- Warmest month
- Jul · 29°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,070 h
- Rain a year
- 937 mm
- Climate
- Continental
- Time zone
- UTC−5 / UTC−4
- Elevation
- 195 m
Climate in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids has warm to hot summers and cold winters with occasional snow. July is the warmest month with average highs of 29 °C, while January is the coolest at 0 °C. With around 2,070 hours of sunshine a year, Grand Rapids is moderately sunny; July is the sunniest month with 8.9 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Best time to visit Grand Rapids
The best time to visit Grand Rapids is from May to September. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable in June and from August to October. Rain is frequent in April; the wettest month is May with 109 mm.
Grand Rapids through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Grand Rapids in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- 8–22 °C by day
- 6.6 h of sun a day
- 35 rainy days in all
Grand Rapids in summer
Jun – Aug
Good
- 27–29 °C by day
- 8.3 h of sun a day
- 32 rainy days in all
Grand Rapids in autumn
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 9–24 °C by day
- 4.8 h of sun a day
- 30 rainy days in all
Grand Rapids in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 0–3 °C by day
- 2.9 h of sun a day
- 31 rainy days in all
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Jun, Aug – Oct
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Apr
Rainy season or more than 12 rainy days
Snow
Nov – Mar
Snow on 2 or more days
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Grand Rapids for you.
Your best months: May, September
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Weather in October
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: May – September
Good forSightseeing & walks
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 6°
- Midday, 13:00: about 15°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 16°
- Evening, 20:00: about 12°
- Night, 23:00: about 10°
07:5519:02
Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 07:37–08:33 · evening 18:24–19:20
- Blue hour
- Morning 07:26–07:37 · evening 19:20–19:31
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
October in Grand Rapids compared with home
Loading the climate at home …
Early or late October?
In October, daytime highs fall from about 20° at the start of the month to 13° at the end. The days get 1.4 h shorter.
| October | 1 Oct | 31 Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime high | 20° | 13° |
| Night-time low | 9° | 3° |
| Daylight | 11.8 h | 10.4 h |
What is the weather like in Grand Rapids in October?
In October, Grand Rapids is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. Expect around 4.6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 86 mm in total. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Grand Rapids.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 7 min07:55 – 19:02
- UV index
- 3 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 19 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 61 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Snow days
- 0 days1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−4offset from UTC
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %84 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %27 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %47 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Compare two months in Grand Rapids
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
June has the better holiday weather in Grand Rapids: score 82 against 61. In June, days are 11 °C warmer than in October. June has one more rainy day. The sun shines 4 hours longer a day in June.
| Month | October | June |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 61 | 82better |
| Daytime high | 16° | 27° |
| Night-time low | 6° | 15° |
| Sunshine | 4.6 h | 8.5 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 11better | 12 |
| Rainfall | 86 mmbetter | 96 mm |
| Muggy days | 0better | 6 |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Grand Rapids month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
15January0° · 2.5 h
In January, Grand Rapids is bitterly cold: daytime highs average 0 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−7 °C). The sun is scarce, with only about 2.5 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 11 days, totalling 60 mm; on about 8 of them it snows. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids in January24February1° · 4.0 h
In February, Grand Rapids is bitterly cold: daytime highs average 1 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−6 °C). Expect around 4.0 hours of sunshine a day. Precipitation falls on about 8 days, totalling 53 mm; on about 5 of them it snows. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids in February26March8° · 5.7 h
In March, Grand Rapids is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−2 °C). Expect around 5.7 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 68 mm in total. Snow falls on about 3 days. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids in March59April15° · 6.6 h
In April, Grand Rapids is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sun shines for around 6.6 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 96 mm in total. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids in April77May22° · 7.5 h
In May, Grand Rapids is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sun shines for around 7.5 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 109 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids in May82June27° · 8.5 h
In June, Grand Rapids is warm: daytime highs average 27 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sun shines for around 8.5 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 96 mm in total. On about 7 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids in June74July29° · 8.9 h
In July, Grand Rapids is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sun shines for around 8.9 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 86 mm in total. On about 11 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids in July78August28° · 7.6 h
In August, Grand Rapids is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. The sun shines for around 7.6 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 87 mm in total. On about 7 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids in August82September24° · 6.6 h
In September, Grand Rapids is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sun shines for around 6.6 hours a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 74 mm. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids in September61October16° · 4.6 h
In October, Grand Rapids is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. Expect around 4.6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 86 mm in total. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids in October24November9° · 3.3 h
In November, Grand Rapids is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3.3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 60 mm in total. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids in November14December3° · 2.1 h
In December, Grand Rapids is bitterly cold: daytime highs average 3 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−4 °C). The sun is scarce, with only about 2.1 hours a day. Precipitation falls on about 11 days, totalling 63 mm; on about 6 of them it snows. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids in DecemberClimate in detail
Year & climate table
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Grand Rapids
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Frost below 0°
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
ColdOctober: nights around 6°. The room should be heated.
The coolest nights are in January (−7°), the warmest in July (18°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from June to August. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from October to April, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 15 | 0° | −7° | 2.5 h | 11 | 60 |
| FebruaryFeb | 24 | 1° | −6° | 4.0 h | 8 | 53 |
| MarchMar | 26 | 8° | −2° | 5.7 h | 10 | 68 |
| AprilApr | 59 | 15° | 3° | 6.6 h | 12 | 96 |
| MayMay | 77 | 22° | 10° | 7.5 h | 13 | 109 |
| JuneJun | 82 | 27° | 15° | 8.5 h | 12 | 96 |
| JulyJul | 74 | 29° | 18° | 8.9 h | 11 | 86 |
| AugustAug | 78 | 28° | 17° | 7.6 h | 10 | 87 |
| SeptemberSep | 82 | 24° | 12° | 6.6 h | 9 | 74 |
| OctoberOct | 61 | 16° | 6° | 4.6 h | 11 | 86 |
| NovemberNov | 24 | 9° | 1° | 3.3 h | 10 | 60 |
| DecemberDec | 14 | 3° | −4° | 2.1 h | 11 | 63 |
Climate averages 1996–2025 (sunshine partly WMO station normals 1991–2020), not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
42.96° N, 85.67° W · 195 m · America/Detroit
Sunshine
Sunshine hours in Grand Rapids
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 4.6 of 11.1 hours of daylight in Grand Rapids, 41 % of the daylight hours.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
Rain
Rain in Grand Rapids: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Grand Rapids has about 11 rainy days with 86 mm of rain in total.
UV index
UV index in Grand Rapids
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 3 · moderateAround midday seek shade; use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 9).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 40 min
- Fair skin
- about 50 min
- Light brown skin
- about 65 min
- Olive skin
- about 85 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen the time, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Wind & clouds
Wind and clouds in Grand Rapids
How breezy and how cloudy Grand Rapids is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Grand Rapids typically peaks at 19 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, gentle breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 61 % of the sky over Grand Rapids: variable cloud, with about 4.6 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat & humidity
Heat and humidity in Grand Rapids
How often the day gets hot in Grand Rapids (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Grand Rapids has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 16 °C: pleasant. Heat plays no part this month.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Snow
Snow in Grand Rapids
When Grand Rapids is likely to be white: the chance of seeing snow during a week's stay, the days with fresh snow and how much falls. Tap a month to select it.
Snow calendar
- hardly any
- possible
- likely
- very likely
In October, it hardly ever snows in Grand Rapids.
Snow days bring at least 1 cm of fresh snow. Fresh snow comes from ERA5 snowfall (1996–2025) at the height of the place, not on the slopes above it; the snow chance also weighs whether the snow settles. An estimate from climate averages, not a snow report.
Planning a trip to Grand Rapids
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Grand Rapids in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Grand Rapids has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 78) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 15).
- 49
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 13 °C by day
- 6.3 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain, Snow
- 78
May half-term
May – Jun
GoodBest holidays
- 23 °C by day
- 7.7 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
- 77
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Good
- 28 °C by day
- 8.1 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
- 61
October half-term
Oct
Good
- 16 °C by day
- 4.6 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 15
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 1 °C by day
- 2.3 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 7 h 55 min
- Distance
- 6,130 km
- Time zone
- UTC−4
- Jet lag
- About 3 days (5 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Good to know: USA
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
- Languages
- English, Spanish
- Sockets
- Type A, B · 120 V
- Traffic
- Drives on the right
- Dialling code
- +1
- Emergency number
- 911
UK plugs need a travel adapter
Only 120 V: chargers marked 100–240 V work, other devices need a voltage converter.
Sources: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0). Please check details before you travel.
Compare & alternatives
Compare with another place
Grand Rapids compared
Put Grand Rapids side by side with another destination.
Grand Rapids vs Ann Arbor
In October Ann Arbor has the better holiday weather (score 70 vs 61). During the day Ann Arbor is 1 °C warmer than Grand Rapids.
| in October | Grand Rapids | Ann Arbor |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday weather score | 61 | 70 |
| Daytime high | 16° | 17° |
| Sunshine | 5 h | 5 h |
| Rainy days | 11 | 10 |
| Best time | May – Sep | May – Oct |
Through the year
Best places in the country
USA in October: the best places
In October, Grand Rapids ranks 23 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- St. Louis21°82
- 2Nashville23°82
- 3Knoxville22°82
- 4Asheville21°82
- 5Des Moines18°81
- 6Washington21°19°81
- 7Alexandria21°19°81
- 8Louisville22°80
- 23Grand RapidsThis page16°61
Places nearby
Near Grand Rapids
Other destinations close by.
Places with a similar climate
Places with a climate like Grand Rapids
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Grand Rapids's – good alternatives.
Frequently asked questions about Grand Rapids
When is the best time to visit Grand Rapids?
The best time to visit Grand Rapids is from May to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Grand Rapids?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 29 °C and nights around 18 °C. January is the coolest month at 0 °C.
When does it rain most in Grand Rapids?
Rain is frequent in April; the wettest month is May with 109 mm. The driest month is February with 53 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Grand Rapids get?
Grand Rapids gets around 2,070 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is July with 8.9 hours a day; in December there are 2.1 hours a day.
What time zone is Grand Rapids in?
Grand Rapids is on UTC−5 in January and UTC−4 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Grand Rapids?
A nonstop flight from London to Grand Rapids takes about 7 h 55 min, for a straight-line distance of about 6,130 km.
Which school holidays are best for Grand Rapids?
Grand Rapids has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 78) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 15). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 49, May half-term 78, summer holidays 77, October half-term 61, Christmas holidays 15.