Frost Dates for 49829 — Escanaba, Michigan

Half of springs at Escanaba, MI see their last 32°F night by May 13; only one in ten is past it by April 30, and one in ten still has one after May 31. Planting tender crops after May 20 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 24 20%, and after May 31 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 7 in half of years, as early as September 26 one year in ten, and holds off past October 20 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around October 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 16, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 147 days in a typical year, shorter than at 69% of the 172 Michigan stations; it reaches 166 days one year in ten and falls short of 126 one year in ten. On average 175 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 27, and return around September 29. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 22 and April 2.

July is the warmest month at Escanaba, MI, averaging 77°F by day and 56°F at night; January is the coldest at 26°F and 8°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 86% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,718 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 92% of the 172 Michigan stations. 25% of them (421) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 511. Precipitation totals 28.9 inches a year, most in June (3.5") and least in February (1.0"); May to September bring 55% of it.

The nearest other station, Cornell 5SE, MI, 6 miles northwest of Escanaba and 204 feet higher, has a last frost 6 days later (May 19), a first frost 6 days earlier (October 1), a season 14 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Escanaba usually arrives around November 10, and the last of the season around April 12. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Cornell 5SE, MI, 6.2 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 31 days after the last snow.

ZIP 49829 is 2 miles from Escanaba, MI, which stands at 590 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 49829 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.