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Will it freeze in Big Rapids in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Tonight: 31°F (Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST).
Tonight: forecast low 31°F. Freeze.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST.
6 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 31°F Freeze · Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 28°F Hard freeze · Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 27°F Hard freeze · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 29°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 37°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 31°F Freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 30°F Freeze · Mostly Cloudy
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 Big Rapids
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 13, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Big Rapids Water Treatment Plant. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.
| Temperature | Last 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 9 · May 25 · Jun 10 | Sep 6 · Sep 22 · Oct 4 | 118 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 28 · May 13 · May 28 | Sep 18 · Oct 2 · Oct 16 | 142 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 18 · Apr 30 · May 17 | Sep 30 · Oct 13 · Oct 30 | 165 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Big Rapids Water Treatment Plant
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 Big Rapids, MI come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Big Rapids Water Treatment Plant (station USC00200779, elevation 898 ft), 0.5 mi from Big Rapids. 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 Big Rapids
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Pleasant, MI | 36 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 20 |
| Greenville, MI | 38 mi | May 18 | Sep 28 |
| Cadillac, MI | 38 mi | May 19 | Oct 1 |
| Rockford, MI | 39 mi | May 14 | Sep 29 |
| Belding, MI | 43 mi | May 18 | Sep 28 |
| Alma, MI | 47 mi | May 1 | Oct 13 |
| St. Louis, MI | 48 mi | May 1 | Oct 13 |
| Walker, MI | 50 mi | May 6 | Oct 10 |
| Muskegon, MI | 51 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 19 |
| Ludington, MI | 51 mi | May 17 | Oct 7 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Big Rapids?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Big Rapids is around May 13. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 28, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 28.
When is the first frost in Big Rapids?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 2. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 18 and a 90% chance by October 16.
Can it frost in Big Rapids 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 25.
What growing zone is Big Rapids?
Big Rapids is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −15 to −10°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 49307. See growing zones in Michigan.
More: all Michigan frost dates · Michigan growing zones · frost vs. freeze