Frost dates for Central Michigan Univ, MI
At Central Michigan Univ, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 30 and the median first fall frost is Oct 20, for a typical growing season of 171 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 16. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 5a to 6a.
- Apr 30Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 16Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 20First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 171 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 28 | May 10 | May 24 |
| 32°F | Apr 17 | Apr 30 | May 16 |
| 28°F | Apr 4 | Apr 19 | May 4 |
| 24°F | Mar 24 | Apr 6 | Apr 21 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Sep 25 | Oct 7 | Oct 22 |
| 32°F | Oct 5 | Oct 20 | Nov 3 |
| 28°F | Oct 20 | Nov 3 | Nov 17 |
| 24°F | Nov 2 | Nov 15 | Dec 1 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 130 days | 149 days | 167 days |
| 32°F | 152 days | 171 days | 192 days |
| 28°F | 177 days | 196 days | 217 days |
| 24°F | 201 days | 222 days | 242 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48859 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 0 km |
| 48858 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 4 km |
| 48896 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 13 km |
| 48878 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 13 km |
| 48893 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 21 km |
| 49310 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 24 km |
| 49340 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 28 km |
| 48622 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 29 km |
| 48632 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 36 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00205662, at 43.5858, -84.7694, elevation 242 m (795 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 21 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 146.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Oil City 2s (15 km)
- Alma (24 km)
- Midland (46 km)
- Gladwin (49 km)
- Saginaw Mbs Intl Airport (56 km)
- Greenville 2 NNE (57 km)
- Big Rapids Water Plant (59 km)
- Auburn 2ne (61 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.