Frost dates for Escanaba, MI
At Escanaba, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 13 and the median first fall frost is Oct 7, for a typical growing season of 147 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 31. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5a.
- May 13Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 31Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 7First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 147 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 12 | May 27 | Jun 11 |
| 32°F | Apr 30 | May 13 | May 31 |
| 28°F | Apr 19 | Apr 30 | May 16 |
| 24°F | Apr 6 | Apr 19 | May 1 |
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 29 | Oct 9 |
| 32°F | Sep 26 | Oct 7 | Oct 20 |
| 28°F | Oct 5 | Oct 20 | Nov 3 |
| 24°F | Oct 20 | Nov 3 | Nov 16 |
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 | 102 days | 123 days | 142 days |
| 32°F | 126 days | 147 days | 166 days |
| 28°F | 151 days | 171 days | 191 days |
| 24°F | 178 days | 196 days | 217 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49894 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 7 km |
| 49807 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 16 km |
| 49896 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 23 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 USW00014824, at 45.7181, -87.0939, elevation 180 m (590 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 14 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 175.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Cornell 5se (13 km)
- Rapid River 4sse (21 km)
- Garden Corners (47 km)
- Stephenson 5wsw (60 km)
- Chatham 1 SE (70 km)
- Manistique Wastewater Plant (70 km)
- Chatham Exp. Farm 2 (71 km)
- Ki Sawyer Wastewater Plant (72 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.