Frost Dates for 49730 — Elmira, Michigan

Half of springs at Gaylord, MI see their last 32°F night by May 25; only one in ten is past it by May 8, and one in ten still has one after June 8. Planting tender crops after May 31 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after June 3 20%, and after June 8 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 80% 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 13 one year in ten, and holds off past October 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 7; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 27, 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 146 days one year in ten and falls short of 106 one year in ten. On average 176 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 June 5, and return around September 16. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 13 and April 10.

July is the warmest month at Gaylord, MI, averaging 77°F by day and 55°F at night; January is the coldest at 24°F and 8°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 27% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,779 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 88% of the 172 Michigan stations. 31% of them (550) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 498. Precipitation totals 37.0 inches a year, most in October (4.1") and least in February (2.0"); May to September bring 45% of it.

The nearest other station, Gaylord Otsego Co Airport, MI, 8 miles east of Elmira, has a last frost 3 days earlier (May 22), a first frost 4 days later (September 30), a season 5 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Elmira usually arrives around October 22, and the last of the season around April 19. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Gaylord, MI, 7.6 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 36 days after the last snow.

ZIP 49730 is 8 miles from Gaylord, MI, which stands at 1,318 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 49730 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.