Frost Dates for 49706 — Alanson, Michigan

Half of springs at Pellston Regional Airport, MI see their last 32°F night by May 31; only one in ten is past it by May 16, and one in ten still has one after June 21. Planting tender crops after June 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after June 11 20%, and after June 21 10%. The 21 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 97% of the 172 Michigan stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so a fixed calendar date is a gamble here.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by September 18 in half of years, as early as September 2 one year in ten, and holds off past October 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around October 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is June 2, 19 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 108 days in a typical year, shorter than at 98% of the 172 Michigan stations; it reaches 131 days one year in ten and falls short of 79 one year in ten. On average 180 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 13 and April 13.

July is the warmest month at Pellston Regional Airport, MI, averaging 79°F by day and 53°F at night; January is the coldest at 27°F and 9°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 43% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,796 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 87% of the 172 Michigan stations. 30% of them (532) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 498. Precipitation totals 30.0 inches a year, most in October (4.2") and least in February (1.1"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Petoskey Ncmc, MI, 10 miles southwest of Alanson, has a last frost 15 days earlier (May 16), a first frost 21 days later (October 9), a season 39 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Alanson usually arrives around November 13, and the last of the season around April 12. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Petoskey, MI, 10.5 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 49 days after the last snow.

ZIP 49706 is 9 miles from Pellston Regional Airport, MI, which stands at 705 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 49749 (Indian River). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 49706 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.