Frost dates for Kalkaska, MI
At Kalkaska, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 24 and the median first fall frost is Oct 1, for a typical growing season of 128 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 7. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 5a to 6a.
- May 24Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 7Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 1First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 128 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 23 | Jun 5 | Jun 28 |
| 32°F | May 7 | May 24 | Jun 7 |
| 28°F | Apr 24 | May 10 | May 26 |
| 24°F | Apr 12 | Apr 27 | May 14 |
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 | Aug 30 | Sep 17 | Oct 1 |
| 32°F | Sep 14 | Oct 1 | Oct 14 |
| 28°F | Sep 28 | Oct 12 | Oct 31 |
| 24°F | Oct 11 | Oct 30 | Nov 13 |
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 | 72 days | 100 days | 122 days |
| 32°F | 104 days | 128 days | 151 days |
| 28°F | 133 days | 157 days | 179 days |
| 24°F | 160 days | 184 days | 206 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49646 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 11 km |
| 49612 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 16 km |
| 49676 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 16 km |
| 49659 | 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 USC00204257, at 44.7281, -85.1728, elevation 316 m (1,035 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 179.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- S Boardman 2w (16 km)
- Kalkaska 11se (18 km)
- Fife Lake 2wnw (22 km)
- Traverse City Cherry Cptl Airport (32 km)
- Old Mission 3ssw (35 km)
- Traverse City Munson (37 km)
- Grayling (38 km)
- Gaylord 9 SSW (41 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.