Frost Dates for 49651 — Lake City, Michigan

Half of springs at Lake City Exp Farm, MI see their last 32°F night by May 22; only one in ten is past it by May 8, and one in ten still has one after June 6. Planting tender crops after May 28 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after June 1 20%, and after June 6 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 55% of the 172 Michigan stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by September 26 in half of years, as early as September 11 one year in ten, and holds off past October 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 8; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 25, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 125 days in a typical year, shorter than at 91% of the 172 Michigan stations; it reaches 145 days one year in ten and falls short of 105 one year in ten. On average 177 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 13 days longer, to about June 4, and return around September 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 15 and April 6.

July is the warmest month at Lake City Exp Farm, MI, averaging 80°F by day and 55°F at night; January is the coldest at 27°F and 10°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to May (a 90% chance or more). From July to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, June still brings one in 21% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,971 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 81% of the 172 Michigan stations. 31% of them (621) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 541. Precipitation totals 33.4 inches a year, most in October (3.7") and least in February (1.5"); May to September bring 49% of it.

The nearest other station, Houghton Lake 6 WSW, MI, 13 miles east of Lake City, has a last frost 8 days later (May 30), a first frost 11 days earlier (September 15), a season 19 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Lake City usually arrives around November 1, and the last of the season around April 17. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Lake City Exp Farm, MI, 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 35 days after the last snow.

ZIP 49651 is 6 miles from Lake City Exp Farm, MI, which stands at 1,230 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 49651 in zone 5a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -20 to -15°F (-28.9 to -26.1°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.