Frost Dates for 48612 — Beaverton, Michigan

Half of springs at Gladwin, MI see their last 32°F night by May 9; only one in ten is past it by April 26, and one in ten still has one after May 23. Planting tender crops after May 16 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 19 20%, and after May 23 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 80% of the 172 Michigan stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 4 in half of years, as early as September 22 one year in ten, and holds off past October 19 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around October 17; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 14, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 148 days in a typical year, shorter than at 66% of the 172 Michigan stations; it reaches 169 days one year in ten and falls short of 129 one year in ten. On average 165 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 22, and return around September 26. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 27 and March 29.

July is the warmest month at Gladwin, MI, averaging 82°F by day and 57°F at night; January is the coldest at 29°F and 13°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 78% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,274 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 57% of the 172 Michigan stations. 32% of them (726) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 606. Precipitation totals 34.1 inches a year, most in May (3.8") and least in February (1.7"); May to September bring 49% of it.

The nearest other station, Midland, MI, 22 miles southeast of Beaverton, has a last frost 10 days earlier (April 29), a first frost 12 days later (October 16), a season 19 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Beaverton usually arrives around November 21, and the last of the season around April 11. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Gladwin, MI, 7.6 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 48612 is 8 miles from Gladwin, MI, which stands at 775 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 48624 (Gladwin). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 48612 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.