Frost Dates for 48616 — Chesaning, Michigan

Half of springs at Owosso Wwtp, MI see their last 32°F night by May 1; only one in ten is past it by April 17, and one in ten still has one after May 17. Planting tender crops after May 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 11 20%, and after May 17 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 15 in half of years, as early as October 1 one year in ten, and holds off past October 30 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around October 28; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 5, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 164 days in a typical year, longer than at 65% of the 172 Michigan stations; it reaches 185 days one year in ten and falls short of 146 one year in ten. On average 149 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 11, and return around October 4. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 2 and March 20.

July is the warmest month at Owosso Wwtp, MI, averaging 82°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 October 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 51% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,599 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 63% of the 172 Michigan stations. 33% of them (847) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 645. Precipitation totals 34.5 inches a year, most in May (4.2") and least in February (1.8"); May to September bring 50% of it.

The nearest other station, Corunna 2 NE, MI, 13 miles south of Chesaning, has a last frost 4 days later (May 5), a first frost 1 day earlier (October 14), a season 4 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Chesaning usually arrives around November 25, and the last of the season around March 29. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Owosso Wwtp, MI, 12.4 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 33 days after the last snow.

ZIP 48616 is 12 miles from Owosso Wwtp, MI, which stands at 730 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 48867 (Owosso). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 48616 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.