Old Farmer’s Almanac Predicts First Frost of 2024 for Southwest Michigan

It's crazy how accurate the Old Farmer's Almanac can be. Somehow, it's got "The Shine" and can predict the weather, and so many other world events with scary accuracy.

So while we do approach it with SOME trepidation - seeing as how it's just based on a feeling and educated guesses - it's still a great way to prepare in any given year for what weather cycles are to come. So if you're a plant person, this one's for you, because we're talking about the first frost of 2024 in southwest Michigan.

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Temperatures in Michigan are still quite warm, but we're past the peak of summer, and days are now getting shorter. That means Fall is coming, and cooler temperatures will soon follow.

Typically, Michigan starts seeing its first fall freezing temperatures in mid-October. The National Weather Service has a chart that elaborates, based on the average first freeze from 1981-2010.

As you can see, a small portion of the lower peninsula will likely see freezing dates begin in the middle of October, while further north, and east, it typically comes in the first ten days.

But Michigan has seen anything but normal weather the past few years, with last year's first frost day coming in September, despite warmer-than-average temperatures through the entire spring and summer.

So when does the Farmer's Almanac predict we'll see our first frost in southwest Michigan this year?

For Kalamazoo specifically, it predicts the first freeze date to come on October 12th this year, which is calculated by using the Climate Normals from 1991 through 2020. And keeping in mind, this is a guess, not 20 minutes away in Battle Creek, the Farmer's Almanac is predicting the first freeze there a day later on October 13th.

Likewise, those areas a little closer to Lake Michigan that should see a later date for first frost, are actually showing some earlier dates. For example, Benton Harbor is predicting the first frost to come on October 8th. Up the coast in Holland, that first frost date is predicted to be Oct. 15th.

So there it is, if you've got outdoor plants that are thriving, expect to bring them in sometime in the first couple of weeks, for the most part, if you're in southwest Michigan. And enjoy the heat while you can, because we're now into a La NIña winter, which should prove to be cold and wet!