Frost dates for Dowagiac 1 W, MI
At Dowagiac 1 W, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 4 and the median first fall frost is Oct 11, for a typical growing season of 158 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 22. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6a.
- May 4Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 22Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 11First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 158 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 | Apr 30 | May 15 | May 31 |
| 32°F | Apr 21 | May 4 | May 22 |
| 28°F | Apr 10 | Apr 24 | May 10 |
| 24°F | Mar 30 | Apr 11 | Apr 30 |
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 15 | Sep 30 | Oct 13 |
| 32°F | Sep 27 | Oct 11 | Oct 27 |
| 28°F | Oct 8 | Oct 26 | Nov 7 |
| 24°F | Oct 23 | Nov 6 | Nov 22 |
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 | 114 days | 136 days | 157 days |
| 32°F | 135 days | 158 days | 180 days |
| 28°F | 159 days | 181 days | 205 days |
| 24°F | 185 days | 208 days | 231 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49047 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 2 km |
| 49031 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 16 km |
| 49045 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 17 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 USC00202250, at 41.9856, -86.1319, elevation 226 m (740 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 25 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 145.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Eau Claire 4 NE (10 km)
- Niles (20 km)
- Benton Harbor Airport (29 km)
- Benton Harbor Airport (29 km)
- Three Rivers (41 km)
- Bloomingdale (46 km)
- S Haven (48 km)
- Kalamazoo Battle Ck Intl Airport (55 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.