Frost Dates for 49720 — Charlevoix, Michigan

Half of springs at Charlevoix, MI see their last 32°F night by May 1; only one in ten is past it by April 18, and one in ten still has one after May 16. Planting tender crops after May 5 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 9 20%, and after May 16 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 October 28 in half of years, as early as October 13 one year in ten, and holds off past November 11 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 9; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 1, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 178 days in a typical year, longer than at 93% of the 172 Michigan stations; it reaches 198 days one year in ten and falls short of 159 one year in ten. On average 135 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 11 days longer, to about May 12, and return around October 14. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 13 and March 27.

July is the warmest month at Charlevoix, MI, averaging 76°F by day and 61°F at night; February is the coldest at 29°F and 16°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 51% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,135 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 69% of the 172 Michigan stations. 25% of them (541) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 578. Precipitation totals 33.7 inches a year, most in October (4.3") and least in February (1.5"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, E Jordan, MI, 11 miles southeast of Charlevoix, has a last frost 22 days later (May 23), a first frost 26 days earlier (October 2), a season 47 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Charlevoix usually arrives around November 15, and the last of the season around April 12. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Charlevoix, MI, 1.9 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 19 days after the last snow.

ZIP 49720 is 2 miles from Charlevoix, MI, which stands at 593 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 49720 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.