Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Mason, Michigan

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at East Lansing 4 S, 6.8 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 28
First fall frostOct 17
173 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 281 year in 10 after May 16
First fall frostOct 171 year in 10 by Oct 1
Growing season173 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6a−10 to −5°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Mason 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 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.

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 Mason

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.

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 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
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00202395. How to read these probabilities.

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 Mason, 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), 6.8 mi from Mason. 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 Mason

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Lansing, MI 11 mi May 1 Oct 13
Eaton Rapids, MI 12 mi Apr 30 Oct 14
East Lansing, MI 12 mi Apr 28 Oct 17
Grand Ledge, MI 19 mi May 1 Oct 13
Charlotte, MI 20 mi May 1 Oct 15
Jackson, MI 24 mi May 1 Oct 14
Howell, MI 26 mi May 4 Oct 7
Albion, MI 28 mi May 1 Oct 14
Chelsea, MI 29 mi Apr 30 Oct 12
St. Johns, MI 30 mi Apr 28 Oct 24

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Mason?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Mason 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 Mason?

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 Mason 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 Mason?

Mason 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 48854. See growing zones in Michigan.

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