Frost Dates for 49635 — Frankfort, Michigan

Half of springs at Frankfort 2NE, MI see their last 32°F night by May 2; only one in ten is past it by April 19, and one in ten still has one after May 20. Planting tender crops after May 9 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 14 20%, and after May 20 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 26 in half of years, as early as October 7 one year in ten, and holds off past November 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 7; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 6, 14 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 195 days one year in ten and falls short of 151 one year in ten. On average 138 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 16, and return around October 12. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 12 and March 18.

July is the warmest month at Frankfort 2NE, MI, averaging 77°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 29°F and 19°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 56% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,257 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 60% of the 172 Michigan stations. 29% of them (652) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 586. Precipitation totals 34.4 inches a year, most in October (4.0") and least in February (1.7"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Beulah 7SSW, MI, 8 miles southeast of Frankfort and 175 feet lower, has a last frost 5 days later (May 7), a first frost 6 days earlier (October 20), a season 12 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Frankfort usually arrives around November 16, and the last of the season around April 11. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Frankfort 2NE, MI, 1.2 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 21 days after the last snow.

ZIP 49635 is 1 mile from Frankfort 2NE, MI, which stands at 948 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 49635 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.