Frost Dates for 48188 — Canton, Michigan

Half of springs at Detroit Willow Run Airport, MI see their last 32°F night by April 24; only one in ten is past it by April 10, and one in ten still has one after May 11. Planting tender crops after April 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 5 20%, and after May 11 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 24 in half of years, as early as October 7 one year in ten, and holds off past November 6 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 4; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 28, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 179 days in a typical year, longer than at 94% of the 172 Michigan stations; it reaches 199 days one year in ten and falls short of 158 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 10 days longer, to about May 4, and return around October 10. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 8 and March 10.

July is the warmest month at Detroit Willow Run Airport, MI, averaging 86°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 34°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 29% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,267 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 99% of the 172 Michigan stations. 34% of them (1,114) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 769. Precipitation totals 30.2 inches a year, most in May (3.3") and least in February (1.5"); May to September bring 51% of it.

The nearest other station, Detroit Metro Airport, MI, 8 miles southeast of Canton, has a last frost 4 days earlier (April 20), a first frost 3 days later (October 27), a season 9 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Canton usually arrives around November 22, and the last of the season around April 7. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Detroit Metro Airport, MI, 8.3 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 17 days after the last snow.

ZIP 48188 is 5 miles from Detroit Willow Run Airport, MI, which stands at 777 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 48187 (Canton). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 48188 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.