What should you know about Ithaca's weather?
- NWS office
- Grand Rapids (GRR)
- Climate
- Warm-summer humid continental
- Time zone
- EST/EDT
- Elevation
- 794 ft
- Coordinates
- 43.29° N, 84.61° W
- Nearest radar
- KGRR · Grand Rapids NEXRAD · 55 mi
- County
- Gratiot County, MI
- Yearly rain
- 34.5 in
- Warmest month
- July · 70.8°F average
- Coldest month
- January · 22°F average
- Severe storm peak
- May to Jul
How much rain does Ithaca get each month?
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 29.1 | 32.0 | 42.6 | 55.9 | 68.5 | 78.1 | 82.2 | 80.1 | 72.9 | 60.0 | 45.8 | 34.5 |
| Low °F | 15.0 | 15.4 | 23.4 | 34.5 | 45.6 | 55.6 | 59.3 | 57.8 | 49.7 | 39.4 | 29.7 | 21.9 |
| Rain (in) | 2.17 | 1.76 | 2.10 | 3.46 | 3.73 | 3.64 | 3.26 | 3.71 | 2.73 | 3.24 | 2.66 | 2.04 |
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Rain (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29.1 | 15.0 | 2.17 |
| Feb | 32.0 | 15.4 | 1.76 |
| Mar | 42.6 | 23.4 | 2.10 |
| Apr | 55.9 | 34.5 | 3.46 |
| May | 68.5 | 45.6 | 3.73 |
| Jun | 78.1 | 55.6 | 3.64 |
| Jul | 82.2 | 59.3 | 3.26 |
| Aug | 80.1 | 57.8 | 3.71 |
| Sep | 72.9 | 49.7 | 2.73 |
| Oct | 60.0 | 39.4 | 3.24 |
| Nov | 45.8 | 29.7 | 2.66 |
| Dec | 34.5 | 21.9 | 2.04 |
ALMA, MI US · 7 mi away · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020
Why check the Ithaca weather radar before driving US-127?
Because a line of storms can bring winds strong enough to tip trucks on the open highway. On June 10, 2020, 2 semi-trucks were overturned by strong winds on US-127 in Gratiot County, and one report placed a semi blown over near M-57. NWS Grand Rapids named Gratiot among the hardest hit counties as the storms left more than 300,000 people without power statewide. If a solid line is closing in on the loop, drivers of high-profile vehicles do better to wait it out.
Do tornadoes touch down near Ithaca?
Yes, and the SPC tornado database lists an F2 in Gratiot County on May 12, 1956 that killed 1 person and injured 4. On November 10, 2024, an EF-0 with peak winds of 65 mph tracked along Hayes Road between Rich Road and Alger Road, 3 miles northwest of Perrinton, causing sporadic tree damage. On May 25, 2006, a weak tornado was seen lofting dust near Tyler Road and Baldwin Road at Beebe. The farther the beam travels from Grand Rapids, the higher it scans, so small, low tornadoes this far from KGRR can be hard to see on radar.
How cold did Ithaca get in January 2019?
The air temperature at Ithaca dropped to -14°F at 8 AM on January 31, 2019. Factoring in the wind, NWS Grand Rapids logged a wind chill of -33°F 6 miles east-northeast of Ithaca at midnight that morning, with -30°F at Gratiot Community Airport. The arctic outbreak brought some of the coldest air to Lower Michigan in decades, and the tiny snowflakes it produced blew around easily. Radar shows that light, blowing snow but not the cold, so check the hourly forecast for wind chills.
How high did the Pine River rise at Alma in April 2013?
It topped its 8.0 foot flood stage twice that month. The first crest reached 9.60 feet at 8:30 AM on April 12, and the second, higher crest hit 10.15 feet at 3:59 PM on April 18. The river stayed above flood stage from April 18 to April 21 during that second rise. Radar shows the rain as it falls, but rivers crest later, so check river forecasts from NWS Grand Rapids for a few days after a soaking.
When should you check the Ithaca radar?
Severe storm peak
May to JulyAbout 68% of the county's 1996 to 2025 severe reports fall from May to July. Families at the Gratiot County Fair for Youth keep an eye on the loop on muggy July evenings.
Hard freeze season
October 28 to April 20These are the median dates of the first fall and last spring hard freeze, 28°F or colder, at the normals station 7 miles from Ithaca under 1991 to 2020 normals. Clear, calm nights can bring frost with nothing on the radar, so growers watch the hourly temperatures in spring.
What else do people ask about the Ithaca radar?
Which NWS office and radar cover Ithaca?
NWS Grand Rapids (GRR) issues forecasts and warnings for Ithaca. The nearest NEXRAD radar is KGRR, about 55 miles from the city center.
How often does the radar on this page update?
The radar loop on this page updates every 5 minutes.
Is this page an official warning service?
No. It shows radar and forecasts only. For warnings, follow NWS Grand Rapids and local emergency alerts.
Quick facts
- Radar: KGRR (Grand Rapids NEXRAD), a new frame every 5 minutes
- Forecasts and warnings: NWS Grand Rapids (GRR)
- Severe storms peak from May to July (NOAA Storm Events, 1996 to 2025)
- Local time: EST/EDT
- Radar: KGRR, a new frame every 5 minutes
- Warnings: NWS Grand Rapids (GRR)
- Severe storms: May to July
- Local time: EST/EDT
Where does this data come from?
- NOAA NEXRAD radar via Iowa Environmental Mesonet
- National Weather Service, Grand Rapids office
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020: ALMA, MI US
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996 to 2025
- USGS Elevation Point Query Service
- GOES-East satellite imagery
- Open-Meteo forecast API
- OpenStreetMap contributors
- NWS Grand Rapids: June 10, 2020 severe weather
- NWS Grand Rapids: January 28 to 31, 2019 snow and extreme cold
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center: November 10, 2024 tornado reports
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center: May 25, 2006 tornado reports
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center: Tornado database, 1950 to 2025
- NWS Grand Rapids: April 2013 flood stage report
- NOAA NCEI: 1991 to 2020 annual normals, Alma (USC00200146)