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USDA Hardiness Zone 6a

Frost Dates for 49426 — Hudsonville, Michigan

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Holland Tulip City Airport, MI (689 ft), 14 miles southwest.

Updated

In Hudsonville, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 28 in half of years and has passed by May 16 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 21, as early as October 4 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 175 days (NOAA, Holland Tulip City Airport, MI).

Last spring frost
April 28

50% probability

First fall frost
October 21

50% probability

Growing season
175 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6a

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

First snow
November 9

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 13

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

30 of 30 observed

Snow per year
77.6"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Hudsonville

Half of springs at Holland Tulip City Airport, MI see their last 32°F night by April 28; only one in ten is past it by April 13, and one in ten still has one after May 16. Planting tender crops after May 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 9 20%, and after May 16 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 21 in half of years, as early as October 4 one year in ten, and holds off past November 4 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 3; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 3, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 175 days in a typical year, longer than at 87% of the 172 Michigan stations; it reaches 196 days one year in ten and falls short of 151 one year in ten. On average 123 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 10 days longer, to about May 8, and return around October 6. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 14 and March 12.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Holland Tulip City Airport, 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 49426 →Compare Hudsonville with another place →

Weather by month in Hudsonville

July is the warmest month at Holland Tulip City Airport, MI, averaging 82°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°F and 20°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 40% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,751 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 80% of the 172 Michigan stations. 33% of them (912) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 671. Precipitation totals 35.0 inches a year, most in October (4.2") and least in February (1.8"); May to September bring 46% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Holland Tulip City Airport, MI
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan32201.9100%270
Feb34211.8100%251
Mar44282.1100%2220
Apr57373.599%875
May69483.840%1279
Jun78583.50%0537
Jul82622.80%0671
Aug80603.10%0622
Sep74523.06%0392
Oct61434.282%3131
Nov48343.2100%1322
Dec37262.1100%252

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Holland Tulip City Airport, MI (689 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, E Grand Rapids, MI, 14 miles east of Hudsonville, has a last frost 8 days later (May 6), a first frost 11 days earlier (October 10), a season 18 days shorter.

Frost dates for 49508 (Grand Rapids) →

When it snows in Hudsonville, Michigan

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Hudsonville usually arrives around November 9, and the last of the season around April 13. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Grand Rapids, MI, 17 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 15 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 49426

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Hudsonville, Michigan
WhenWhat to do
February 17 – March 3Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 3 – March 17Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 31 – April 14Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 28 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 29Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 7Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 21 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 49426 is 14 miles from Holland Tulip City Airport, MI, which stands at 689 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 49423 (Holland). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 49426 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