Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Ann Arbor, Michigan

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Ann Arbor SE, 3.0 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostMay 5
First fall frostOct 10
157 frost-free days
Last spring frostMay 51 year in 10 after May 20
First fall frostOct 101 year in 10 by Sep 28
Growing season157 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6a−10 to −5°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Ann Arbor in the next 7 nights?

The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Sat, Nov 7: 30°F (Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 PM EST to Sun, Nov 8, 6:00 AM EST).

Tonight: forecast low 39°F. Above 36°F.

NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST.

5 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.

Overnight lows from the National Weather Service forecast for this location. This covers the available forecast window, not the first freeze of the whole season. Frost can form above 32°F on clear, calm nights.

Frost and freeze probabilities

Freeze dates shift from year to year. Spring percentages describe the chance of a freeze after the stated date; fall percentages describe the chance of a freeze by that date. The 10% spring date is the cautious one: a later freeze happens about 1 year in 10.

These dates describe historical probabilities, not this year’s forecast or the earliest and latest possible freezes. Different weather stations or probability thresholds can produce different published dates for the same city.

Average first hard freeze in Ann Arbor

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 23, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Ann Arbor SE. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.

TemperatureLast spring date
90% · 50% · 10% chance of a later freeze
First fall date
10% · 50% · 90% chance of an earlier freeze
Season
36°F frost possible May 1 · May 15 · May 29 Sep 18 · Oct 1 · Oct 12 137 days
32°F freeze Apr 21 · May 5 · May 20 Sep 28 · Oct 10 · Oct 24 157 days
28°F hard freeze Apr 10 · Apr 24 · May 11 Oct 7 · Oct 23 · Nov 6 180 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00200228. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Ann Arbor SE

Average low temperature by month

Months with lows near or below freezing carry frost risk

Where these frost dates come from

The frost dates for Ann Arbor, MI come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Ann Arbor SE (station USC00200228, elevation 832 ft), 3.0 mi from Ann Arbor. Local conditions (valleys, hilltops, distance to water, city heat) can shift frost dates by days or weeks. The hardiness zone is from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA ARS and Oregon State University PRISM). See our methodology.

Frost dates near Ann Arbor

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Ypsilanti, MI 6.2 mi May 5 Oct 10
Saline, MI 7.5 mi May 2 Oct 11
South Lyon, MI 14 mi May 5 Oct 13
Milan, MI 14 mi Apr 26 Oct 19
Chelsea, MI 15 mi Apr 30 Oct 12
Plymouth, MI 15 mi May 1 Oct 17
Northville, MI 17 mi May 1 Oct 17
Wayne, MI 17 mi Apr 20 Oct 27
Brighton, MI 18 mi May 6 Oct 12
Westland, MI 18 mi Apr 20 Oct 27

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Ann Arbor?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Ann Arbor is around May 5. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 20, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 21.

When is the first frost in Ann Arbor?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 10. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 28 and a 90% chance by October 24.

Can it frost in Ann Arbor after the last frost date?

Yes. Frost can form on clear, calm nights even when the air stays above 32°F. Temperatures of 36°F or lower, cold enough for frost on exposed plants, have a 50% chance of occurring after May 15.

What growing zone is Ann Arbor?

Ann Arbor is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a (average annual extreme minimum temperature −10 to −5°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 48104. See growing zones in Michigan.

More: all Michigan frost dates · Michigan growing zones · UV index today in Ann Arbor · frost vs. freeze