Frost dates for Houghton Lake 2nw, MI
At Houghton Lake 2nw, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 20 and the median first fall frost is Oct 1, for a typical growing season of 136 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 3. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5a.
- May 20Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 3Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 1First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 136 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 | May 17 | Jun 1 | Jun 20 |
| 32°F | May 2 | May 20 | Jun 3 |
| 28°F | Apr 23 | May 6 | May 23 |
| 24°F | Apr 10 | Apr 26 | May 11 |
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 1 | Sep 19 | Oct 3 |
| 32°F | Sep 18 | Oct 1 | Oct 16 |
| 28°F | Sep 30 | Oct 15 | Nov 1 |
| 24°F | Oct 13 | Oct 31 | Nov 12 |
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 | 83 days | 110 days | 131 days |
| 32°F | 114 days | 136 days | 159 days |
| 28°F | 139 days | 161 days | 183 days |
| 24°F | 163 days | 186 days | 207 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48629 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 1 km |
| 48630 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 1 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 USC00203930, at 44.3122, -84.7747, elevation 354 m (1,161 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 14 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 176.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Houghton Lake 6 WSW (9 km)
- Houghton Lake Roscommon Airport (10 km)
- Lake City Exp. Farm (34 km)
- Kalkaska 11se (38 km)
- Grayling (39 km)
- Gladwin (44 km)
- W Branch 3se (46 km)
- Cadillac (50 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.