Frost Dates for 48140 — Ida, Michigan

Half of springs at Dundee, MI see their last 32°F night by April 27; only one in ten is past it by April 14, and one in ten still has one after May 13. Planting tender crops after May 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 7 20%, and after May 13 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 38% of the 172 Michigan stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 21 in half of years, as early as October 6 one year in ten, and holds off past November 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 2, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 176 days in a typical year, longer than at 90% of the 172 Michigan stations; it reaches 193 days one year in ten and falls short of 156 one year in ten. On average 131 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 9 days longer, to about May 6, and return around October 8. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 5 and March 16.

July is the warmest month at Dundee, MI, averaging 84°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°F and 17°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 35% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,915 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 93% of the 172 Michigan stations. 33% of them (964) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 719. Precipitation totals 35.0 inches a year, most in May (3.8") and least in February (2.0"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Monroe, MI, 9 miles east of Ida, has a last frost 4 days earlier (April 23), a first frost 2 days later (October 23), a season 6 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Ida usually arrives around December 6, and the last of the season around March 18. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Milan 4 ESE, MI, 13.2 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 40 days after the last snow.

ZIP 48140 is 6 miles from Dundee, MI, which stands at 660 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 48131 (Dundee). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 48140 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.