Frost dates for Rapid River 4sse, MI
At Rapid River 4sse, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 18 and the median first fall frost is Oct 4, for a typical growing season of 137 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 2. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5a.
- May 18Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 2Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 4First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 137 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 | May 31 | Jun 12 |
| 32°F | May 3 | May 18 | Jun 2 |
| 28°F | Apr 23 | May 5 | May 21 |
| 24°F | Apr 12 | Apr 25 | May 9 |
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 5 | Sep 22 | Oct 5 |
| 32°F | Sep 18 | Oct 4 | Oct 18 |
| 28°F | Oct 1 | Oct 17 | Nov 2 |
| 24°F | Oct 17 | Nov 1 | Nov 17 |
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 | 93 days | 114 days | 135 days |
| 32°F | 117 days | 137 days | 158 days |
| 28°F | 140 days | 162 days | 183 days |
| 24°F | 166 days | 188 days | 208 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49878 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 10 km |
| 49872 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 19 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 USC00206840, at 45.8728, -86.9497, elevation 182 m (598 ft).
- Data quality: Estimated from nearby stations (2+ years), 6 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 189.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Cornell 5se (17 km)
- Escanaba (21 km)
- Garden Corners (31 km)
- Chatham 1 SE (51 km)
- Chatham Exp. Farm 2 (52 km)
- Manistique Wastewater Plant (55 km)
- Ki Sawyer Wastewater Plant (61 km)
- Munising (64 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.