Michigan is Getting a Major Heatwave – Here’s When and Where

Author Anne Erickson

September 29th, 2023 4:18 PM

As someone who is not a fan of the cold, I love a good late summer. If you’re like me, then you’re going to like what I’m about to say. Michigan is getting a major heatwave. Yes, you read that right. We’re heading into October, and it’s going to feel more like August. I love it, but I know a lot of people who want the cool fall temperatures. Look at it this way: This is your last chance for a very late-in-the-season swim, if your pool is still open, or suntan. If you can’t beat them, join them, right?

Before we get to the forecast, let’s look at the average temperatures in our state this time of year. According to WeatherSpark.com, daily high temperatures decrease “from 66°F to 53°F, rarely falling below 41°F or exceeding 78°F.” Also, “daily low temperatures decrease by 9°F, from 47°F to 38°F, rarely falling below 27°F or exceeding 59°F.” They say that the temperatures rarely get above 78°F, and we’re expected to beat that. How crazy is this? I expected warm temperatures in September, but to see this kind of heat in October is certainly rare.

Michigan is getting a major heatwave

So, when and where is this scorching heat coming to Michigan? According to Weather.com, looking at the east side of the state, around Detroit, the hottest day this week is expected to be Wednesday (Oct. 4). That day, expect temperatures to hit 81, if not a little higher, with pure, sunny skies. Then, the temperatures dip by about 5 degrees for the following day and start to taper off. The forecast looks similar for the west side of the state, as in Pittsburgh. Wednesday should hit 83 with sunny skies and then start to taper off. Temperatures are expect to be back in the 50s and 60s by the following weekend. So, enjoy the warm weather while it lasts.

Michigan Has 2 of the Most Beautiful Spots for Fall Colors in America

• Blue Ridge Parkway - Virginia and North Carolina

  The Blue Ridge Parkway is stunning any time of the year, but especially in the fall. The trees on this 469-mile Appalachian attraction turn beautiful shades in the fall, so it’s a splendor for the senses. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina and is divided into four districts: the Ridge region, the Plateau region, the Highlands region, and the Pisgah region.

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• Vogel State Park in Georgia

  If you’re looking for a late spot to view vibrant fall colors, then we have just the area for you. Vogel State Park, located around the Chattahoochee National Forest in Blairsville, Georgia, is a great area to see fall foliage going into the first half of November. It’s a great late-season trip.

  Vogel State Park

  ReservationsEventsPhotosPark Map

• Cape May - New Jersey

  Cape May in New Jersey is a delightful area to see autumn colors later in the season. From mid-October and through November, the colors here are bright. Don’t miss the views of the historic lighthouses in the area, too, plus all the area parks.

  CapeMay.com - Free Cape May Travel Guide

  Cape May distinguishes herself in many ways. We have the pristine beaches, promenade, and all the amenities that make any seashore town worth visiting, but we also have a rich history and an architectural diversity equal to none. Plan your visit

• Lamoille Canyon - Nevada

  Lamoille Canyon in Nevada offers some stunning looks in the autumn months. The area is located in the Ruby Mountains and offers a wide array of fall colors with plenty of different kinds of trees. You can drive on the 12-mile Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway for a prime view.

  https://travelnevada.com/outdoor-recreation/lamoille-canyon-ruby-mountains/

• Traverse City - Michigan

  The north parts of Michigan are glorious in the fall months. Traverse City is located on Lake Michigan, and in the fall, the trees turn bright orange and yellow. This area gets really cold in the winter, so the summer and fall months are the best time to travel there. Spring is nice, too.

  Traverse City

  Traverse City combines breathtaking attractions with a rich blend of adventure and relaxation. Sled down the Sleeping Bear Dunes, voted the "Most Beautiful Place in America" by Good Morning America viewers. The cobalt blue waters of Lake Michigan make a stunning backdrop to the fresh white snow.

• Torreya State Park - Florida

  I know what you’re thinking. Fall colors in Florida? The Sunshine State isn’t known for their fall colors, but Torreya State Park offers some great, late-season views. The area has quite a few varieties of trees that show their colors in early November. It’s worth the road trip, if you live south of there.

  Torreya State Park

  High bluffs overlooking the Apalachicola River make Torreya one of Florida's most scenic places. The park is named for an extremely rare species of Torreya tree that grows only on the bluffs along the Apalachicola River.

• Tahquamenon Falls State Park - Michigan

  Waterfalls and fall colors? That sounds great to me. The Tahquamenon Falls State Park has one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River. This state park is huge, too, offering 50,000 acres of forest. It’s beautiful in the fall.

  Tahquamenon Falls State Park

  Tahquamenon Falls State Park encompasses nearly 50,000 acres and stretches 13-plus miles in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The park is home to multiple campgrounds, overnight lodging facilities, a boat launch, more than 35 miles of trails and multiple overlooks to the Upper and Lower Falls.

• Washington Crossing - Pennsylvania

  The Washington Crossing Historic Park is a special, historical area, because it’s the spot where George Washington crossed the Delaware River from Pennsylvania to New Jersey in 1776. Aside from its history, this Pennsylvania landmark is beautiful in the fall. It offers plenty of bright trees, as well as a colonial reenactment event.

  Home - Washington Crossing Historic Park

  Contribute Now: Help us save our national heritage The mission of the non- profit Friends of Washington Crossing Park is to support the programs of Washington Crossing Historic Park. Your tax-deductible gift will assist the Friends to support and promote the park as an historic site and aid in the preservation, collection and maintenance of materials, buildings, equipment, machinery and artifacts relating to the colonial period.

• The Great Smoky Mountains - Tennessee and North Carolina

  The Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee has some of the greatest fall foliage in America. It also has one of the longest fall foliage seasons, so you get plenty of time to take it in. The colors can arrive as early as the middle of September and go all the way through the middle of November. Take it in.

  Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

  Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this is America's most visited national park.

• Lenox - Massachusetts

  Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary offers a great spot for a hike in the middle part of October, because the colors are so vivid. Expect a delightful view of the vibrant colors. It’s a nice area if you don’t want to travel to New Hampshire or Burlington, Vermont, and it’s a bit more off the radar.

  Lenox, MA |

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Author Anne Erickson

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