Frost Dates for 49006 — Kalamazoo, Michigan

Half of springs at Kalamazoo Battle Ck International Airport, MI see their last 32°F night by April 28; only one in ten is past it by April 13, and one in ten still has one after May 13. Planting tender crops after May 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 8 20%, and after May 13 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 55% of the 172 Michigan stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 18 in half of years, as early as October 2 one year in ten, and holds off past November 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 3, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 172 days in a typical year, longer than at 80% of the 172 Michigan stations; it reaches 192 days one year in ten and falls short of 150 one year in ten. On average 129 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 8, and return around October 6. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 6 and March 18.

July is the warmest month at Kalamazoo Battle Ck International Airport, MI, averaging 83°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°F and 18°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 40% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,897 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 91% of the 172 Michigan stations. 34% of them (994) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 699. Precipitation totals 33.3 inches a year, most in May (3.7") and least in February (1.3"); May to September bring 52% of it.

The nearest other station, Gull Lake Biological Stn, MI, 14 miles northeast of Kalamazoo, has a last frost 1 day later (April 29), a first frost 2 days later (October 20), a season 1 day longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Kalamazoo usually arrives around November 24, and the last of the season around March 22. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Gull Lake Biological Stn, MI, 13.9 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 37 days after the last snow.

ZIP 49006 is 6 miles from Kalamazoo Battle Ck International Airport, MI, which stands at 868 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 13 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 49009 (Kalamazoo). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 49006 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.