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USDA Hardiness Zone 6a

Frost Dates for 48848 — Laingsburg, Michigan

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Owosso Wwtp, MI (730 ft), 13 miles northeast.

Updated

In Laingsburg, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 1 in half of years and has passed by May 17 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 15, as early as October 1 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 164 days (NOAA, Owosso Wwtp, MI).

Last spring frost
May 1

50% probability

First fall frost
October 15

50% probability

Growing season
164 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6a

-10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) coldest night

First snow
November 25

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 29

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

21 of 21 observed

Snow per year
38.3"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Laingsburg

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.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 28May 1May 5May 8May 11May 15May 19May 23May 28
32°FApr 17Apr 22Apr 26Apr 29May 1May 4May 7May 11May 17
28°FApr 5Apr 10Apr 14Apr 18Apr 20Apr 23Apr 28Apr 30May 5
24°FMar 25Mar 31Apr 2Apr 5Apr 8Apr 11Apr 15Apr 19Apr 24
20°FMar 15Mar 19Mar 23Mar 27Mar 30Apr 1Apr 3Apr 6Apr 11
16°FMar 5Mar 10Mar 14Mar 17Mar 20Mar 23Mar 27Mar 30Apr 1
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 22Sep 26Sep 30Oct 1Oct 4Oct 6Oct 8Oct 12Oct 16
32°FOct 1Oct 5Oct 8Oct 12Oct 15Oct 17Oct 20Oct 24Oct 30
28°FOct 12Oct 17Oct 21Oct 25Oct 28Oct 31Nov 2Nov 5Nov 11
24°FOct 25Oct 31Nov 2Nov 5Nov 8Nov 11Nov 16Nov 20Nov 25
20°FNov 5Nov 10Nov 14Nov 18Nov 22Nov 26Nov 29Dec 3Dec 9
16°FNov 16Nov 22Nov 27Nov 30Dec 2Dec 6Dec 10Dec 16Dec 23

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Owosso Wwtp, MI, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 48848 →Compare Laingsburg with another place →

Weather by month in Laingsburg

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.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Owosso Wwtp, MI
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan30162.1100%290
Feb33161.8100%261
Mar43242.0100%2514
Apr57353.6100%1562
May69464.251%1258
Jun78563.50%0512
Jul82603.60%0645
Aug80593.30%0597
Sep74512.87%<1374
Oct61403.292%7118
Nov47312.4100%1817
Dec36232.0100%272

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Owosso Wwtp, MI (730 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Saint Johns, MI, 13 miles northwest of Laingsburg, has a last frost 3 days earlier (April 28), a first frost 9 days later (October 24), a season 15 days longer.

Frost dates for 48879 (Saint Johns) →

When it snows in Laingsburg, Michigan

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Laingsburg 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, 12.7 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.

Planting calendar for 48848

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Laingsburg, Michigan
WhenWhat to do
February 20 – March 6Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 6 – March 20Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 3 – April 17Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
May 1 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 23Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 1Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 15 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 48848 is 13 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 48848 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.

Frost dates across Michigan →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 6a places in Michigan