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Will it freeze in Houghton in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Tonight: 28°F (Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST).
Tonight: forecast low 28°F. Hard 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 28°F Hard freeze · Chance Rain Showers then Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 26°F Hard freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 33°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 34°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Mon, Nov 9 38°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Tue, Nov 10 33°F Frost possible · Slight Chance Rain Showers
- Wed, Nov 11 32°F Freeze · Slight Chance Rain Showers
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 Houghton
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 14, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Hancock Houghton County Airport. 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 16 · Jun 1 · Jun 13 | Sep 3 · Sep 21 · Oct 5 | 113 days |
| 32°F freeze | May 1 · May 17 · Jun 3 | Sep 16 · Oct 1 · Oct 18 | 138 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 19 · May 2 · May 20 | Sep 28 · Oct 14 · Nov 1 | 164 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Hancock Houghton County Airport
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 Houghton, MI come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Hancock Houghton County Airport (station USW00014858, elevation 1,063 ft), 5.5 mi from Houghton. 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 Houghton
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ishpeming, MI | 61 mi | May 26 | Sep 25 |
| Marquette, MI | 68 mi | May 8 | Oct 21 |
| Iron Mountain, MI | 92 mi | May 25 | Sep 24 |
| Kingsford, MI | 93 mi | May 25 | Sep 24 |
| Rhinelander, WI | 110 mi | May 26 | Sep 23 |
| Gladstone, MI | 114 mi | May 18 | Oct 4 |
| Ashland, WI | 115 mi | May 20 | Oct 2 |
| Escanaba, MI | 118 mi | May 13 | Oct 7 |
| Antigo, WI | 139 mi | May 14 | Sep 30 |
| Merrill, WI | 144 mi | May 11 | Sep 30 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Houghton?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Houghton is around May 17. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after June 3, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after May 1.
When is the first frost in Houghton?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 1. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 16 and a 90% chance by October 18.
Can it frost in Houghton 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 June 1.
What growing zone is Houghton?
Houghton 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 49921. See growing zones in Michigan.
More: all Michigan frost dates · Michigan growing zones · frost vs. freeze