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USDA Hardiness Zone 6a

Frost Dates for 48105 — Ann Arbor, Michigan

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Ann Arbor U Of Mich, MI (813 ft), 2 miles east.

Updated

In Ann Arbor, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 3 in half of years and has passed by May 20 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 13, as early as September 29 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 160 days (NOAA, Ann Arbor U Of Mich, MI).

Last spring frost
May 3

50% probability

First fall frost
October 13

50% probability

Growing season
160 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6a

-10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) coldest night

First snow
November 10

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 15

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

30 of 30 observed

Snow per year
61.4"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Ann Arbor

Half of springs at Ann Arbor U Of Mich, MI see their last 32°F night by May 3; only one in ten is past it by April 20, and one in ten still has one after May 20. Planting tender crops after May 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 14 20%, and after May 20 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 62% of the 172 Michigan stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 13 in half of years, as early as September 29 one year in ten, and holds off past October 27 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around October 26; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 9, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 160 days in a typical year, longer than at 51% of the 172 Michigan stations; it reaches 179 days one year in ten and falls short of 138 one year in ten. On average 130 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 13 days longer, to about May 16, and return around October 2. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 28 and March 21.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 30May 5May 8May 12May 16May 19May 23May 26May 31
32°FApr 20Apr 24Apr 28Apr 30May 3May 6May 10May 14May 20
28°FApr 9Apr 14Apr 17Apr 20Apr 23Apr 26Apr 29May 3May 9
24°FMar 30Apr 2Apr 5Apr 8Apr 11Apr 14Apr 17Apr 20Apr 26
20°FMar 18Mar 23Mar 26Mar 30Apr 1Apr 3Apr 6Apr 9Apr 14
16°FMar 7Mar 12Mar 15Mar 18Mar 21Mar 24Mar 28Mar 31Apr 4
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 20Sep 24Sep 27Sep 30Oct 2Oct 4Oct 7Oct 10Oct 14
32°FSep 29Oct 3Oct 7Oct 10Oct 13Oct 15Oct 19Oct 22Oct 27
28°FOct 12Oct 17Oct 20Oct 23Oct 26Oct 29Nov 1Nov 4Nov 8
24°FOct 25Oct 30Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 8Nov 10Nov 15Nov 20
20°FNov 4Nov 8Nov 11Nov 14Nov 17Nov 20Nov 24Nov 28Dec 3
16°FNov 10Nov 15Nov 20Nov 24Nov 28Dec 1Dec 4Dec 8Dec 16

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Ann Arbor U Of Mich, MI, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 48105 →Compare Ann Arbor with another place →

Weather by month in Ann Arbor

July is the warmest month at Ann Arbor U Of Mich, MI, averaging 84°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°F and 16°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 59% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,801 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 84% of the 172 Michigan stations. 33% of them (936) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 679. Precipitation totals 38.2 inches a year, most in June (3.9") and least in February (2.5"); May to September bring 47% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Ann Arbor U Of Mich, MI
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan32163.0100%281
Feb35182.5100%251
Mar46252.8100%2217
Apr60363.4100%981
May71473.859%1297
Jun80563.90%0540
Jul84603.50%0679
Aug82593.50%0628
Sep75523.214%<1405
Oct62413.096%4134
Nov48312.8100%1619
Dec36222.8100%262

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Ann Arbor U Of Mich, MI (813 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Ann Arbor SE, MI, 5 miles south of Ann Arbor, has a last frost 2 days later (May 5), a first frost 3 days earlier (October 10), a season 3 days shorter.

Frost dates for 48197 (Ypsilanti) →

When it snows in Ann Arbor, Michigan

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Ann Arbor usually arrives around November 10, and the last of the season around April 15. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Ann Arbor U Of Mich, MI, 2.2 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 18 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 48105

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Ann Arbor, Michigan
WhenWhat to do
February 22 – March 8Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 8 – March 22Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 5 – April 19Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
May 3 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 21Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 29Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 13 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 48105 is 2 miles from Ann Arbor U Of Mich, MI, which stands at 813 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 48105 in zone 6a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across Michigan →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 6a places in Michigan