What to Wear in Detroit
Detroit's winter is a wet cold rather than a dry one. The Great Lakes keep moisture in the air well past the freeze, and damp cold pulls heat out of a person far faster than still, dry cold at the same reading. That single fact settles most Detroit wardrobe arguments: wool over cotton, and a shell that actually sheds water.
What to wear in Detroit today
Today's answer depends on today's conditions, so the specific outfit comes from the live reading for Detroit rather than from this page. Check what to wear right now, or read on for what stays true here whatever the date.
Three things move the answer in Detroit more than the forecast number does: the feels-like temperature rather than the air temperature, how long you will be outside, and whether you run warm or cold. Humid continental conditions make that gap wider here than the daily high suggests.
Judge a Detroit winter garment by how it behaves wet, not by how warm it is dry. That is the whole difference between a coat that works here and one that works in a colder, drier city.
See also what to wear right now, do I need a jacket today and how to dress when the temperature swings.
Winter in Detroit
December through March. 25-35°F highs. Lake moisture is the variable. Wool and synthetic insulation keep most of their warmth wet; cotton keeps almost none, and down keeps about as little, which is why an untreated down parka is a poor choice on a slushy day. Road salt destroys untreated leather — treat boots before the first storm, not after.
Spring in Detroit
April through May. 45-65°F. Slow to warm, because the lakes hold their winter temperature into spring and hold the air back with them. Expect to need the winter coat later than the calendar suggests.
Summer in Detroit
June through August. 75-90°F. Warmer than Detroit's reputation, and humid with it. Breathable natural fibres do well here because the air, while damp, still takes sweat — this is not the saturated heat of the Gulf coast.
Fall in Detroit
September through November. 50-70°F. The lakes work the other way now, holding warmth into October. A light jacket covers more of this season than it would inland.
Local tips
Judge a Detroit winter garment by how it behaves wet, not by how warm it is dry. That is the whole difference between a coat that works here and one that works in a colder, drier city.