Frost Dates for 48629 — Houghton Lake, Michigan

Half of springs at Houghton Lake 2NW, MI see their last 32°F night by May 20; only one in ten is past it by May 2, and one in ten still has one after June 3. Planting tender crops after May 26 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 29 20%, and after June 3 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 1 in half of years, as early as September 18 one year in ten, and holds off past October 16 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around October 15; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 23, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 136 days in a typical year, shorter than at 77% of the 172 Michigan stations; it reaches 159 days one year in ten and falls short of 114 one year in ten. On average 176 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 12 days longer, to about June 1, and return around September 19. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 22 and April 3.

July is the warmest month at Houghton Lake 2NW, MI, averaging 81°F by day and 55°F at night; January is the coldest at 28°F and 10°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From July to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 90% of years and June still brings one in 15% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,050 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 75% of the 172 Michigan stations. 31% of them (645) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 550. Precipitation totals 32.6 inches a year, most in October (3.5") and least in February (1.5"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Houghton Lk Roscommon Airport, MI, 5 miles northeast of Houghton Lake, has a last frost 1 day earlier (May 19), a first frost 8 days earlier (September 23), a season 11 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Houghton Lake usually arrives around November 9, and the last of the season around April 12. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Houghton Lk Roscommon Airport, MI, 5.5 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 38 days after the last snow.

ZIP 48629 is 1 mile from Houghton Lake 2NW, MI, which stands at 1,161 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 48629 in zone 5a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -20 to -15°F (-28.9 to -26.1°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.