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Will it freeze in East Lansing in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Sat, Nov 7: 32°F (Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 PM EST to Sun, Nov 8, 6:00 AM EST).
Tonight: forecast low 38°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.
- Tonight 38°F Above 36°F · Chance Rain Showers
- Fri, Nov 6 35°F Frost possible · Chance Rain Showers
- Sat, Nov 7 32°F Freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 34°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 41°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 36°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 34°F Frost possible · Partly 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 East Lansing
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 30, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at East Lansing 4 S. 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 | Apr 23 · May 8 · May 27 | Sep 22 · Oct 4 · Oct 18 | 149 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 13 · Apr 28 · May 16 | Oct 1 · Oct 17 · Nov 1 | 173 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 2 · Apr 15 · May 1 | Oct 14 · Oct 30 · Nov 13 | 198 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at East Lansing 4 S
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 East Lansing, MI come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: East Lansing 4 S (station USC00202395, elevation 880 ft), 5.2 mi from East Lansing. 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 East Lansing
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lansing, MI | 4.3 mi | May 1 | Oct 13 |
| Mason, MI | 12 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 17 |
| Grand Ledge, MI | 13 mi | May 1 | Oct 13 |
| St. Johns, MI | 18 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 24 |
| Eaton Rapids, MI | 19 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 14 |
| Charlotte, MI | 22 mi | May 1 | Oct 15 |
| Owosso, MI | 23 mi | May 1 | Oct 15 |
| Howell, MI | 29 mi | May 4 | Oct 7 |
| Ionia, MI | 34 mi | May 3 | Oct 12 |
| Jackson, MI | 35 mi | May 1 | Oct 14 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in East Lansing?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in East Lansing is around April 28. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 16, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 13.
When is the first frost in East Lansing?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 17. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 1 and a 90% chance by November 1.
Can it frost in East Lansing 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 8.
What growing zone is East Lansing?
East Lansing 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 48825. See growing zones in Michigan.
More: all Michigan frost dates · Michigan growing zones · UV index today in East Lansing · frost vs. freeze