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USDA Hardiness Zone 6a

Frost Dates for 49333 — Middleville, Michigan

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Hastings, MI (821 ft), 10 miles east.

Updated

In Middleville, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 3 in half of years and has passed by May 22 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 12, as early as September 29 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 158 days (NOAA, Hastings, MI).

Last spring frost
May 3

50% probability

First fall frost
October 12

50% probability

Growing season
158 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6a

-10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) coldest night

First snow
November 10

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 13

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

30 of 30 observed

Snow per year
68"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Middleville

Half of springs at Hastings, MI see their last 32°F night by May 3; only one in ten is past it by April 20, and one in ten still has one after May 22. Planting tender crops after May 11 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 15 20%, and after May 22 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 93% of the 172 Michigan stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 12 in half of years, as early as September 29 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 26; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 11, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 158 days in a typical year, shorter than at 50% of the 172 Michigan stations; it reaches 178 days one year in ten and falls short of 137 one year in ten. On average 151 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 May 17, and return around October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 2 and March 22.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 30May 5May 9May 13May 17May 21May 24May 28Jun 1
32°FApr 20Apr 25Apr 29May 1May 3May 7May 11May 15May 22
28°FApr 9Apr 14Apr 18Apr 21Apr 24Apr 27Apr 30May 4May 11
24°FMar 30Apr 3Apr 5Apr 8Apr 11Apr 15Apr 18Apr 21Apr 27
20°FMar 16Mar 22Mar 26Mar 30Apr 1Apr 3Apr 6Apr 10Apr 16
16°FMar 8Mar 13Mar 16Mar 19Mar 22Mar 26Mar 29Mar 31Apr 5
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 17Sep 22Sep 25Sep 28Oct 1Oct 3Oct 5Oct 9Oct 13
32°FSep 29Oct 2Oct 6Oct 9Oct 12Oct 15Oct 19Oct 22Oct 28
28°FOct 9Oct 15Oct 20Oct 23Oct 26Oct 30Nov 1Nov 3Nov 8
24°FOct 25Oct 30Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 9Nov 12Nov 16Nov 22
20°FNov 5Nov 9Nov 12Nov 16Nov 19Nov 23Nov 27Dec 1Dec 7
16°FNov 15Nov 21Nov 26Nov 30Dec 2Dec 5Dec 9Dec 14Dec 20

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Hastings, MI, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 49333 →Compare Middleville with another place →

Weather by month in Middleville

July is the warmest month at Hastings, MI, averaging 82°F by day and 59°F at night; January is the coldest at 31°F and 16°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 60% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,536 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 55% of the 172 Michigan stations. 33% of them (830) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 634. Precipitation totals 39.5 inches a year, most in May (4.4") and least in February (2.1"); May to September bring 48% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Hastings, MI
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan31162.6100%290
Feb34162.1100%271
Mar44242.5100%2514
Apr57343.8100%1562
May69454.460%2252
Jun78554.20%0501
Jul82593.40%0634
Aug80573.80%0583
Sep74503.313%1359
Oct61394.094%8112
Nov47302.9100%1916
Dec35222.5100%272

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Hastings, MI (821 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Nwsfo Grand Rapids, MI, 15 miles north of Middleville, has a last frost 3 days earlier (April 30), a first frost 2 days later (October 14), a season 9 days longer.

Frost dates for 49316 (Caledonia) →

When it snows in Middleville, Michigan

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Middleville usually arrives around November 10, and the last of the season around April 13. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Hastings, MI, 9.6 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 20 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 49333

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Middleville, Michigan
WhenWhat to do
February 22 – March 8Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 8 – March 22Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 5 – April 19Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
May 3 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 20Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 28Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 12 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 49333 is 10 miles from Hastings, MI, which stands at 821 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 49058 (Hastings). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 49333 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.

Frost dates across Michigan →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 6a places in Michigan