Frost Dates for 49064 — Lawrence, Michigan

Half of springs at Bloomingdale, MI see their last 32°F night by May 7; only one in ten is past it by April 23, and one in ten still has one after May 22. Planting tender crops after May 14 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 17 20%, and after May 22 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 11 in half of years, as early as September 28 one year in ten, and holds off past October 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around October 26; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 13, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 156 days in a typical year, shorter than at 55% of the 172 Michigan stations; it reaches 177 days one year in ten and falls short of 135 one year in ten. On average 153 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 11 days longer, to about May 18, and return around September 30. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 2 and March 22.

July is the warmest month at Bloomingdale, MI, averaging 83°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°F and 17°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 68% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,725 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 77% of the 172 Michigan stations. 33% of them (901) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 666. Precipitation totals 41.1 inches a year, most in October (4.4") and least in February (2.3"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Dowagiac 1 W, MI, 16 miles south of Lawrence, has a last frost 3 days earlier (May 4), the same first-frost date, a season 2 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Lawrence usually arrives around November 17, and the last of the season around April 1. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Bloomingdale, 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 36 days after the last snow.

ZIP 49064 is 12 miles from Bloomingdale, MI, which stands at 736 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 49079 (Paw Paw). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 49064 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.