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Will it freeze in Sault Ste. Marie in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Fri, Nov 6: 28°F (Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 PM EST to Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 AM EST).
Tonight: forecast low 34°F. Frost possible.
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 34°F Frost possible · Rain Showers
- Fri, Nov 6 28°F Hard freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 31°F Freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 37°F Above 36°F · Chance Rain Showers
- Mon, Nov 9 41°F Above 36°F · Slight Chance Rain Showers
- Tue, Nov 10 36°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 Sault Ste. Marie
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 26, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Sault Ste Marie Sanderson Field. 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 10 · May 26 · Jun 11 | Sep 15 · Sep 29 · Oct 12 | 125 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 27 · May 9 · May 27 | Sep 26 · Oct 11 · Oct 26 | 151 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 14 · Apr 27 · May 10 | Oct 8 · Oct 26 · Nov 9 | 179 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Sault Ste Marie Sanderson Field
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 Sault Ste. Marie, MI come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Sault Ste Marie Sanderson Field (station USW00014847, elevation 722 ft), 0.7 mi from Sault Ste. Marie. 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 Sault Ste. Marie
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petoskey, MI | 83 mi | May 6 | Oct 20 |
| Alpena, MI | 107 mi | May 5 | Oct 17 |
| Traverse City, MI | 133 mi | May 12 | Oct 16 |
| Gladstone, MI | 134 mi | May 18 | Oct 4 |
| Escanaba, MI | 139 mi | May 13 | Oct 7 |
| Marquette, MI | 144 mi | May 8 | Oct 21 |
| Cadillac, MI | 162 mi | May 19 | Oct 1 |
| Manistee, MI | 181 mi | May 14 | Oct 12 |
| Sturgeon Bay, WI | 185 mi | May 8 | Oct 13 |
| Midland, MI | 197 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 16 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Sault Ste. Marie?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Sault Ste. Marie is around May 9. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 27, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 27.
When is the first frost in Sault Ste. Marie?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 11. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 26 and a 90% chance by October 26.
Can it frost in Sault Ste. Marie 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 26.
What growing zone is Sault Ste. Marie?
Sault Ste. Marie is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 4b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −25 to −20°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 49783. See growing zones in Michigan.
More: all Michigan frost dates · Michigan growing zones · frost vs. freeze