Frost Dates for 49224 — Albion, Michigan

Half of springs at Jackson Reynolds Field, MI see their last 32°F night by May 1; only one in ten is past it by April 16, and one in ten still has one after May 18. Planting tender crops after May 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 12 20%, and after May 18 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 62% of the 172 Michigan stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 14 in half of years, as early as September 30 one year in ten, and holds off past October 28 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around October 28; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 6, 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 187 days one year in ten and falls short of 142 one year in ten. On average 137 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 May 13, and return around October 3. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 19.

July is the warmest month at Jackson Reynolds Field, MI, averaging 83°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 31°F and 18°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 51% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,767 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 82% of the 172 Michigan stations. 34% of them (938) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 670. Precipitation totals 32.2 inches a year, most in August (3.8") and least in February (1.5"); May to September bring 53% of it.

The nearest other station, Eaton Rapids, MI, 18 miles north of Albion, has a last frost 1 day earlier (April 30), the same first-frost date, a season 1 day longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Albion usually arrives around November 25, and the last of the season around March 25. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Albion, MI, 1.4 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 85% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 37 days after the last snow.

ZIP 49224 is 15 miles from Jackson Reynolds Field, MI, which stands at 998 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 12 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 49201 (Jackson). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 49224 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.