When To Expect the First Frost in Michigan

It happened again. You blinked, and summer was over. The kids are back on the bus, Pumpkin Spice lattes are again on the menu, and your desire to wear plaid increases. It's also the season to make your garden last as long as possible and to do that; you need to know when Michigan will see the first frost of 2024. Even if you aren't a gardener, you'll want to ensure your handy-dandy ice scraper is in your vehicle before then.

Fortunately for you and your garden, the experts at the Old Farmers Almanac, who claim to have an 80% accuracy track record (more on that later), have once again predicted when you can overnight temperatures to plummet low enough to coat your precious plants with a layer of ice crystals.

Old Farmers Almanac Weather Prediction Accuracy

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The Old Farmers Almanac has entertained and informed us with its statistics and predictions since 1792. After all, an almanac, by definition, is a publication that provides historical data on astronomical events and uses that information to make predictions. The Old Farmers Almanac boasts an 80% history of correctly predicting the weather. Is that true?

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A 1981 study published in Weatherwise and recent meteorological studies claims that the Old Farmer's Almanac is only accurate 50-53% of the time.

The Old Farmer's Almanac 2024 First Frost For Michigan Prediction

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Since our state is divided into two peninsulas, let's examine the Lower Peninsula prediction first: The Old Farmers Almanac has predicted the first fall frost for Lansing, Michigan, for October 6, 2024.

While you'd think Marquette, Michigan, would experience an earlier first frost, the publication says the Upper Peninsula won't see a frost until October 16, 2024, ten days after the state capitol. Now that you know when to expect the first frost of the fall in Michigan for 2024, let's look at one of the state's most infamous blizzards.

Blizzard of 1978: When Mother Nature's Fury Shut Down Michigan

The Blizzard of 1978 was an iconic storm system made possible by two converging fronts, one from the Gulf of Mexico, meeting a northern system from Canada creating record snowfall and hurricane-force winds that shutdown Michigan's transportation system, both on the ground and in the air. Here's a look at WOOD TV 8's coverage from January 25th through January 27th, 1978.

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

Michigan Blizzards: 1880-1920s

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