Frost dates for Houghton Lake 6 WSW, MI
At Houghton Lake 6 WSW, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 30 and the median first fall frost is Sep 15, for a typical growing season of 106 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 19. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5a.
- May 30Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 19Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Sep 15First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 106 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | May 12 | May 30 | Jun 19 |
| 28°F | Apr 28 | May 16 | May 31 |
| 24°F | Apr 14 | Apr 30 | May 20 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | Aug 26 | Sep 15 | Oct 1 |
| 28°F | Sep 13 | Sep 30 | Oct 17 |
| 24°F | Sep 26 | Oct 13 | Nov 1 |
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 | 46 days | 76 days | 101 days |
| 32°F | 80 days | 106 days | 130 days |
| 28°F | 113 days | 136 days | 160 days |
| 24°F | 139 days | 165 days | 189 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49667 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 5 km |
| 49632 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 10 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 USC00203932, at 44.3119, -84.8922, elevation 346 m (1,135 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 191.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Houghton Lake 2nw (9 km)
- Houghton Lake Roscommon Airport (18 km)
- Lake City Exp. Farm (25 km)
- Kalkaska 11se (33 km)
- Cadillac (40 km)
- Grayling (41 km)
- Cadillac 9&10 News (43 km)
- Fife Lake 2wnw (48 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.