Climate:
A humid continental type climate, modified by the tempering influence of Lake Superior and by local variations in topography. Lake Superior acts as a large storage basin for heat or cold and thus tends to increase the number of frost-free days along the lake, but also acts as a coolant in the summer. The average yearly precipitation is 32.1 inches. In summer, Douglas County away from the lake is considerably warmer.
Season Average Temperature Range
- Winter Average Low: -1 Fahrenheit
- Winter Average High: 25 Fahrenheit
- Spring Average Low: 17 Fahrenheit
- Spring Average High: 59 Fahrenheit
- Summer Average Low: 46 Fahrenheit
- Summer Average High: 78 Fahrenheit
- Fall Average Low: 23 Fahrenheit
- Fall Average High: 66 Fahrenheit
Water Resources:
In addition to beautiful Lake Superior, there are 431 lakes in Douglas County. The mainland shore bordering Lake Superior is 23.77 miles in length. Lake Superior consists of 31,820 square miles. Its maximum depth is 1,333 feet with a total water volume of 3 quadrillion gallons. To take a circle tour of the lake, you would have to travel a total of 1,300 miles. The states that border Lake Superior are Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan and the Canadian Province that borders Lake Superior is Ontario.
Forest Resources:
Superior Municipal Forest, located within Superior city limits, is the 2nd largest municipal forest, within city limits, in the nation. The forest is 4,500 acres, which includes summer and winter recreational activities and trails. Also located in Douglas County is the Brule River State Forest which includes 40,000 acres, including 6 miles of Lake Superior Shoreline.
Richard I. Bong Municipal Airport:
Includes a 5,100 foot runway that runs SE to NW and a new NE to SW runway. Modern hanger. Full-time maintenance with beacon and restaurant facility on premises. Civil Air Patrol Unit. The municipal airport is served with two global positioning system (GPS) instrument approaches and an AWOS is available.