Frost dates for Kalkaska 11se, MI
At Kalkaska 11se, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 27 and the median first fall frost is Sep 22, for a typical growing season of 117 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 13. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5b.
- May 27Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 13Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Sep 22First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 117 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 25 | Jun 9 | Jul 10 |
| 32°F | May 8 | May 27 | Jun 13 |
| 28°F | Apr 25 | May 11 | May 28 |
| 24°F | Apr 13 | Apr 29 | May 16 |
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 | Aug 23 | Sep 9 | Sep 24 |
| 32°F | Sep 4 | Sep 22 | Oct 6 |
| 28°F | Sep 18 | Oct 3 | Oct 22 |
| 24°F | Oct 2 | Oct 23 | Nov 7 |
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 | 62 days | 90 days | 114 days |
| 32°F | 94 days | 117 days | 140 days |
| 28°F | 121 days | 144 days | 168 days |
| 24°F | 149 days | 174 days | 197 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49633 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 11 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 USC00204258, at 44.5897, -85.0486, elevation 330 m (1,083 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 14 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 188.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Kalkaska (18 km)
- S Boardman 2w (23 km)
- Fife Lake 2wnw (25 km)
- Grayling (29 km)
- Houghton Lake 6 WSW (33 km)
- Lake City Exp. Farm (34 km)
- Houghton Lake 2nw (38 km)
- Houghton Lake Roscommon Airport (39 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.