Frost Dates for 49287 — Tipton, Michigan

Half of springs at Tipton 2WNW, MI see their last 32°F night by May 5; only one in ten is past it by April 22, and one in ten still has one after May 23. Planting tender crops after May 13 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 17 20%, and after May 23 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 81% of the 172 Michigan stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 10 in half of years, as early as September 28 one year in ten, and holds off past October 23 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 22; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 11, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 157 days in a typical year, shorter than at 53% of the 172 Michigan stations; it reaches 175 days one year in ten and falls short of 134 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 13 days longer, to about May 18, and return around October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 23 and March 25.

July is the warmest month at Tipton 2WNW, MI, averaging 84°F by day and 58°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°F and 13°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 66% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,582 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 61% of the 172 Michigan stations. 32% of them (836) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 642.

The nearest other station, Tecumseh, MI, 8 miles east of Tipton and 190 feet lower, has a last frost 2 days earlier (May 3), a first frost 3 days later (October 13), a season 3 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Tipton usually arrives around December 3, and the last of the season around March 14. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Tecumseh, MI, 8.4 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 52 days after the last snow.

ZIP 49287 is 1 mile from Tipton 2WNW, MI, which stands at 970 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 49230 (Brooklyn). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 49287 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.