Frost dates for Big Rapids Water Plant, MI
At Big Rapids Water Plant, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 13 and the median first fall frost is Oct 2, for a typical growing season of 142 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 28. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 5a to 5b.
- May 13Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 28Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 2First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 142 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 10 |
| 32°F | Apr 28 | May 13 | May 28 |
| 28°F | Apr 18 | Apr 30 | May 17 |
| 24°F | Apr 6 | Apr 19 | May 4 |
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 6 | Sep 22 | Oct 4 |
| 32°F | Sep 18 | Oct 2 | Oct 16 |
| 28°F | Sep 30 | Oct 13 | Oct 30 |
| 24°F | Oct 10 | Oct 29 | 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 | 96 days | 118 days | 139 days |
| 32°F | 122 days | 142 days | 162 days |
| 28°F | 144 days | 165 days | 186 days |
| 24°F | 169 days | 191 days | 212 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49307 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 1 km |
| 49338 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 12 km |
| 49346 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 13 km |
| 49342 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 13 km |
| 49320 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 17 km |
| 49639 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 17 km |
| 49677 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 21 km |
| 49332 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 22 km |
| 49336 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 22 km |
| 49312 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 24 km |
| 49349 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 26 km |
| 49305 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 27 km |
| 49623 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 28 km |
| 49631 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 29 km |
| 49679 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 32 km |
| 49642 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 33 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 USC00200779, at 43.7072, -85.4819, elevation 274 m (898 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 26 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 168.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Hesperia 4 WNW (52 km)
- Fremont 4 WSW (53 km)
- Cadillac 9&10 News (56 km)
- Central Michigan Univ (59 km)
- Greenville 2 NNE (59 km)
- Kent City 2 SW (61 km)
- Cadillac (62 km)
- Wellston 1n (69 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.