Frost Dates for 49326 — Gowen, Michigan

Half of springs at Greenville 2 NNE, MI see their last 32°F night by May 18; only one in ten is past it by April 29, and one in ten still has one after June 3. Planting tender crops after May 25 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 29 20%, and after June 3 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 September 28 in half of years, as early as September 15 one year in ten, and holds off past October 10 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 7; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 23, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 133 days in a typical year, shorter than at 81% of the 172 Michigan stations; it reaches 155 days one year in ten and falls short of 111 one year in ten. On average 162 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 14 days longer, to about June 1, and return around September 19. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 18 and April 1.

July is the warmest month at Greenville 2 NNE, MI, averaging 84°F by day and 56°F at night; January is the coldest at 31°F and 13°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From July to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 85% of years and June still brings one in 15% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,506 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 53% of the 172 Michigan stations. 33% of them (834) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 629. Precipitation totals 36.6 inches a year, most in May (4.1") and least in February (1.9"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Kent City 2 SW, MI, 22 miles west of Gowen, has a last frost 4 days earlier (May 14), a first frost 1 day later (September 29), a season 2 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Gowen usually arrives around November 16, and the last of the season around April 10. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Greenville 2 NNE, MI, 5.8 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 38 days after the last snow.

ZIP 49326 is 6 miles from Greenville 2 NNE, MI, which stands at 882 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 9 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 48838 (Greenville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 49326 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.