Frost Dates for 48071 — Madison Heights, Michigan

Half of springs at Detroit City Airport, MI see their last 32°F night by April 21; only one in ten is past it by April 7, and one in ten still has one after May 6. Planting tender crops after April 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 6 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 55% of the 172 Michigan stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 31 in half of years, as early as October 17 one year in ten, and holds off past November 11 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 9; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 22, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 190 days in a typical year, longer than at 98% of the 172 Michigan stations; it reaches 208 days one year in ten and falls short of 171 one year in ten. On average 113 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 10 days longer, to about May 1, and return around October 18. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 14 and March 11.

July is the warmest month at Detroit City Airport, MI, averaging 84°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°F and 20°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 20% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,094 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 98% of the 172 Michigan stations. 33% of them (1,007) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 750. Precipitation totals 29.9 inches a year, most in May (3.5") and least in February (1.4"); May to September bring 54% of it.

The nearest other station, Dearborn #2, MI, 11 miles south of Madison Heights, has a last frost 6 days later (April 27), a first frost 6 days earlier (October 25), a season 9 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Madison Heights usually arrives around November 25, and the last of the season around March 24. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Pontiac Wwtp, MI, 12.2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 28 days after the last snow.

ZIP 48071 is 8 miles from Detroit City Airport, MI, which stands at 626 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 22 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 48212 (Hamtramck). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 48071 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.