Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Ionia, Michigan

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Ionia 2SSW, 1.7 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostMay 3
First fall frostOct 12
161 frost-free days
Last spring frostMay 31 year in 10 after May 21
First fall frostOct 121 year in 10 by Sep 29
Growing season161 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6a−10 to −5°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Ionia 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 37°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 Ionia

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 27, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Ionia 2SSW. 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 Apr 30 · May 16 · Jun 1 Sep 18 · Oct 1 · Oct 15 139 days
32°F freeze Apr 17 · May 3 · May 21 Sep 29 · Oct 12 · Oct 27 161 days
28°F hard freeze Apr 7 · Apr 22 · May 9 Oct 7 · Oct 27 · Nov 10 186 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00204078. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Ionia 2SSW

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 Ionia, MI come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Ionia 2SSW (station USC00204078, elevation 805 ft), 1.7 mi from Ionia. 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 Ionia

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Belding, MI 12 mi May 18 Sep 28
Greenville, MI 17 mi May 18 Sep 28
Grand Ledge, MI 23 mi May 1 Oct 13
Hastings, MI 25 mi May 3 Oct 12
St. Johns, MI 26 mi Apr 28 Oct 24
Rockford, MI 27 mi May 14 Sep 29
Kentwood, MI 27 mi Apr 30 Oct 14
East Grand Rapids, MI 27 mi May 6 Oct 10
Grand Rapids, MI 29 mi May 6 Oct 10
Charlotte, MI 31 mi May 1 Oct 15

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Ionia?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Ionia is around May 3. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 21, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 17.

When is the first frost in Ionia?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 12. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 29 and a 90% chance by October 27.

Can it frost in Ionia 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 16.

What growing zone is Ionia?

Ionia 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 48846. See growing zones in Michigan.

More: all Michigan frost dates · Michigan growing zones · frost vs. freeze