Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Sterling Heights, Michigan

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Mt Clemens Ang Base, 11 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 30
First fall frostOct 24
174 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 301 year in 10 after May 15
First fall frostOct 241 year in 10 by Oct 7
Growing season174 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6b−5 to 0°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Sterling Heights in the next 7 nights?

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

Tonight: forecast low 41°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 Sterling Heights

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 3, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Mt Clemens Ang Base. 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 28 · May 11 · May 28 Sep 26 · Oct 9 · Oct 24 150 days
32°F freeze Apr 16 · Apr 30 · May 15 Oct 7 · Oct 24 · Nov 3 174 days
28°F hard freeze Apr 3 · Apr 18 · May 3 Oct 20 · Nov 3 · Nov 15 196 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014804. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Mt Clemens Ang Base

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 Sterling Heights, MI come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Mt Clemens Ang Base (station USW00014804, elevation 580 ft), 11 mi from Sterling Heights. 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 Sterling Heights

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Utica, MI 3.1 mi Apr 30 Oct 24
Fraser, MI 5.0 mi Apr 30 Oct 24
Troy, MI 5.6 mi Apr 26 Oct 22
Warren, MI 6.2 mi Apr 21 Oct 31
Madison Heights, MI 6.2 mi Apr 21 Oct 31
Clawson, MI 6.8 mi Apr 26 Oct 22
Center Line, MI 6.8 mi Apr 21 Oct 31
Roseville, MI 6.8 mi Apr 29 Oct 22
Mount Clemens, MI 7.5 mi Apr 30 Oct 24
Royal Oak, MI 8.1 mi Apr 21 Oct 31

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Sterling Heights?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Sterling Heights is around April 30. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 15, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 16.

When is the first frost in Sterling Heights?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 24. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 7 and a 90% chance by November 3.

Can it frost in Sterling Heights 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 11.

What growing zone is Sterling Heights?

Sterling Heights 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 48312. See growing zones in Michigan.

More: all Michigan frost dates · Michigan growing zones · UV index today in Sterling Heights · frost vs. freeze