Frost Dates for 48450 — Lexington, Michigan

Half of springs at Lexington Wtp, MI see their last 32°F night by May 4; 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 15 20%, and after May 20 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 24 in half of years, as early as October 7 one year in ten, and holds off past November 5 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 May 9, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 171 days in a typical year, longer than at 78% of the 172 Michigan stations; it reaches 192 days one year in ten and falls short of 151 one year in ten. On average 140 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 17, and return around October 11. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 5 and March 18.

July is the warmest month at Lexington Wtp, MI, averaging 78°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 30°F and 16°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 63% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,300 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 56% of the 172 Michigan stations. 28% of them (636) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 594. Precipitation totals 35.4 inches a year, most in May (3.9") and least in February (2.0"); May to September bring 49% of it.

The nearest other station, Yale 1 NNW, MI, 15 miles southwest of Lexington and 198 feet higher, has a last frost 8 days later (May 12), a first frost 19 days earlier (October 5), a season 24 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Lexington usually arrives around November 20, and the last of the season around April 8. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Yale 1 NNW, MI, 15.4 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 26 days after the last snow.

ZIP 48450 is 1 mile from Lexington Wtp, MI, which stands at 622 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 48422 (Croswell). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 48450 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.