Frost Dates for 49453 — Saugatuck, Michigan

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.

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.

The nearest other station, Holland Wtp, MI, 9 miles north of Saugatuck, has a last frost 1 day earlier (April 27), a first frost 4 days later (October 25), a season 3 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Saugatuck usually arrives around November 22, and the last of the season around March 18. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Holland Wtp, MI, 9.1 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 41 days after the last snow.

ZIP 49453 is 7 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 49453 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.