January 2023 will go down in the record books as one of the warmest for all Michigan cities. Most cities had anywhere between the third-warmest and seventh-warmest January on record.
Using the average temperature for the month, most Michigan cities were between seven degrees and eight-and-a-half degrees warmer than average. Record warmest months are usually around 10 degrees warmer than average.
Here is the best way to show you how widespread the “warm” weather was in January. The data I use is more accurate than this satellite-derived data below, but it gives you the idea that the eastern two-thirds of the US was quite warm by January standards.
Deviation in degrees F from the long-term average January temperature.
The two graphics below show the deviation from normal for the afternoon high temperature and the morning low temperature. You’ll notice that the mornings were much warmer than normal. Most Michigan cities didn’t have a below zero temperature in January, which is extremely rare.
Deviation in degrees F from the long-term average January temperature.
Deviation in degrees F from the long-term average January low temperature.
In Grand Rapids we had our fifth warmest January on record at 6.9 degrees warmer than normal. For Kalamazoo we had our third warmest January at 8.9 degrees warmer than normal. Muskegon was 7.5 degrees warmer than normal and the third warmest January on record.
Here’s how the rest of the state shaped up on temperature deviation and warmth ranking for January.
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The most amazing statistic to me is the few number of days with the temperature staying below freezing. Grand Rapids only had four days that remained below 32 degrees. Kalamazoo only had three days staying below freezing.
Right now, February looks like it’s going to pick up with warmer than normal temperatures right where January left off.
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