Frost dates for Traverse City Cherry Cptl Airport, MI
At Traverse City Cherry Cptl Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 12 and the median first fall frost is Oct 16, for a typical growing season of 155 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 27. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 5b to 6a.
- May 12Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 27Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 16First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 155 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 9 | May 25 | Jun 5 |
| 32°F | Apr 26 | May 12 | May 27 |
| 28°F | Apr 15 | Apr 30 | May 16 |
| 24°F | Apr 2 | Apr 17 | May 3 |
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 19 | Oct 2 | Oct 16 |
| 32°F | Oct 1 | Oct 16 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F | Oct 12 | Oct 30 | Nov 13 |
| 24°F | Oct 28 | Nov 12 | Nov 29 |
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 | 112 days | 130 days | 150 days |
| 32°F | 135 days | 155 days | 177 days |
| 28°F | 160 days | 182 days | 203 days |
| 24°F | 187 days | 209 days | 229 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49696 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 11 km |
| 49690 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 16 km |
| 49620 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 26 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 USW00014850, at 44.7408, -85.5825, elevation 188 m (618 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 28 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 149.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Traverse City Munson (5 km)
- NW Michigan Rsch Farm (17 km)
- Old Mission 3ssw (21 km)
- S Boardman 2w (23 km)
- Maple City 1e (24 km)
- Fife Lake 2wnw (24 km)
- Kalkaska (32 km)
- Northport 2w (44 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.