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Will it freeze in Traverse City in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Traverse City during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
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.
3 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 37°F Above 36°F · Rain Showers
- Fri, Nov 6 35°F Frost possible · Chance Rain Showers
- Sat, Nov 7 34°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 37°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Mon, Nov 9 43°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Tue, Nov 10 38°F Above 36°F · Slight Chance Rain Showers
- Wed, Nov 11 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Cloudy
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 Traverse City
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 30, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Traverse City Cherry Cptl Airport. 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 9 · May 25 · Jun 5 | Sep 19 · Oct 2 · Oct 16 | 130 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 26 · May 12 · May 27 | Oct 1 · Oct 16 · Nov 1 | 155 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 15 · Apr 30 · May 16 | Oct 12 · Oct 30 · Nov 13 | 182 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Traverse City Cherry Cptl Airport
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 Traverse City, MI come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Traverse City Cherry Cptl Airport (station USW00014850, elevation 618 ft), 1.4 mi from Traverse City. 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 Traverse City
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cadillac, MI | 36 mi | May 19 | Oct 1 |
| Manistee, MI | 50 mi | May 14 | Oct 12 |
| Petoskey, MI | 51 mi | May 6 | Oct 20 |
| Ludington, MI | 69 mi | May 17 | Oct 7 |
| Big Rapids, MI | 73 mi | May 13 | Oct 2 |
| Sturgeon Bay, WI | 87 mi | May 8 | Oct 13 |
| Mount Pleasant, MI | 90 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 20 |
| Escanaba, MI | 99 mi | May 13 | Oct 7 |
| Marinette, WI | 102 mi | May 4 | Oct 11 |
| Menominee, MI | 102 mi | May 4 | Oct 11 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Traverse City?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Traverse City is around May 12. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 27, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 26.
When is the first frost in Traverse City?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 16. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 1 and a 90% chance by November 1.
Can it frost in Traverse City 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 25.
What growing zone is Traverse City?
Traverse City 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 49684. See growing zones in Michigan.
More: all Michigan frost dates · Michigan growing zones · frost vs. freeze