Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for 48096 — Ray, MI

ZIP code 48096 (Ray, Macomb County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost October 20.

Where ZIP 48096 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostMay 1
First frostOct 20
2012 zone6a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Ray, MI…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Ray, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 20median — 10% chance by Oct 4
Growing season170 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 19 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Richmond 4 Nnw, MI — 10 miles away, elevation 764 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in 48096

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 15 – May 29
BeansSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 25 – Sep 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 6 – Nov 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (Oct 20) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 48096 came on Apr 5 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 6a in Michigan

580 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Michigan, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 58

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 105

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 220

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °F

Grasses 174

alpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked sedge4 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Vines 8

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Ray, MI.

Soil in Ray, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 48096 is Cohoctah — fine sandy loam, poorly drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drained and either protected from flooding or not frequently flooded during the growing seasonUSDA classification

Map unit: Cohoctah fine sandy loam.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 48096; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ray, MI

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days14days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights143nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,709base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 20 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 02 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation34 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 30 °F, low 16 °F 30°16° JanFebruary: average high 33 °F, low 16 °F 33°16° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 25 °F 42°25° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 36 °F 56°36° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 47 °F 69°47° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 58 °F 78°58° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 41 °F 60°41° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 32 °F 47°32° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 23 °F 35°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.41 in precipitation 2.4 JanFebruary: 1.83 in precipitation 1.8 FebMarch: 2.23 in precipitation 2.2 MarApril: 3.12 in precipitation 3.1 AprMay: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 JunJuly: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 2.83 in precipitation 2.8 OctNovember: 2.61 in precipitation 2.6 NovDecember: 2.10 in precipitation 2.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Richmond 4 Nnw, MI (10 mi away); precipitation: Shelby 0.4 Sse, MI (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

3 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

480426b
Macomb, MI · 5 mi
480506a
New Haven, MI · 6 mi
480486a
New Haven, MI · 6 mi
480056a
Armada, MI · 6 mi
480956a
Washington, MI · 7 mi
480946a
Washington, MI · 7 mi
480516b
New Baltimore, MI · 7 mi
483156b
Utica, MI · 7 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 48096

What planting zone is ZIP code 48096?

ZIP code 48096 (Ray, MI) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Ray, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 48096 is May 1; after May 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Richmond 4 Nnw station.

When is the first frost in Ray, MI?

The median first fall frost near 48096 is October 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 170 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 48096?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 6 – Mar 20 and set transplants outside around May 8 – May 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 48096 get?

About 34 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Shelby 0.4 Sse station).

How hot do summers get in Ray, MI?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 14 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 48096 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Cohoctah at the center of ZIP 48096: fine sandy loam, poorly drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Ray, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 48096 came on Apr 5 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ray, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 48096 is 15 h 20 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).