Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Ludington, Michigan

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Ludington 4 SE, 4.2 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostMay 17
First fall frostOct 7
144 frost-free days
Last spring frostMay 171 year in 10 after Jun 1
First fall frostOct 71 year in 10 by Sep 20
Growing season144 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6b−5 to 0°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Ludington in the next 7 nights?

No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Ludington during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.

Tonight: forecast low 35°F. Frost possible.

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

2 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 Ludington

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 21, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Ludington 4 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 12 · May 30 · Jun 13 Sep 9 · Sep 26 · Oct 12 120 days
32°F freeze Apr 28 · May 17 · Jun 1 Sep 20 · Oct 7 · Oct 25 144 days
28°F hard freeze Apr 16 · May 1 · May 21 Oct 2 · Oct 21 · Nov 6 171 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00204954. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Ludington 4 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 Ludington, MI come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Ludington 4 SE (station USC00204954, elevation 690 ft), 4.2 mi from Ludington. 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 Ludington

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Manistee, MI 21 mi May 14 Oct 12
Big Rapids, MI 51 mi May 13 Oct 2
Muskegon, MI 52 mi Apr 30 Oct 19
Muskegon Heights, MI 53 mi Apr 30 Oct 19
Cadillac, MI 54 mi May 19 Oct 1
Norton Shores, MI 55 mi Apr 30 Oct 19
Two Rivers, WI 58 mi Apr 27 Oct 21
Manitowoc, WI 62 mi Apr 30 Oct 20
Grand Haven, MI 63 mi Apr 30 Oct 24
Sheboygan, WI 66 mi Apr 25 Oct 23

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Ludington?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Ludington is around May 17. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after June 1, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 28.

When is the first frost in Ludington?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 7. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 20 and a 90% chance by October 25.

Can it frost in Ludington 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 30.

What growing zone is Ludington?

Ludington is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −5 to 0°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 49431. See growing zones in Michigan.

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