Frost dates for Lansing Capital City Airport, MI
At Lansing Capital City Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 1 and the median first fall frost is Oct 13, for a typical growing season of 162 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 18. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6a.
- May 1Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 18Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 13First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 162 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 29 | May 13 | May 31 |
| 32°F | Apr 18 | May 1 | May 18 |
| 28°F | Apr 6 | Apr 21 | May 6 |
| 24°F | Mar 26 | Apr 8 | Apr 23 |
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 17 | Oct 1 | Oct 14 |
| 32°F | Sep 29 | Oct 13 | Oct 28 |
| 28°F | Oct 7 | Oct 27 | Nov 10 |
| 24°F | Oct 23 | Nov 8 | Nov 23 |
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 | 119 days | 139 days | 160 days |
| 32°F | 141 days | 162 days | 183 days |
| 28°F | 165 days | 187 days | 208 days |
| 24°F | 190 days | 212 days | 234 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48906 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 1 km |
| 48915 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 5 km |
| 48933 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 6 km |
| 48912 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 6 km |
| 48917 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 8 km |
| 48820 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 9 km |
| 48823 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 10 km |
| 48808 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 12 km |
| 48837 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 16 km |
| 48822 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 16 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 USW00014836, at 42.7803, -84.5789, elevation 256 m (841 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 28 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 142.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- East Lansing 4 S (14 km)
- Saint Johns (26 km)
- Eaton Rapids (30 km)
- Charlotte (33 km)
- Owosso Wastewater Plant (42 km)
- Ionia 2ssw (45 km)
- Corunna 2 NE (48 km)
- Durand Wastewater Plant (51 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.