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

Planting zone for 48627 — Higgins Lake, MI

ZIP code 48627 (Higgins Lake, Roscommon County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 19 and the first fall frost September 23.

Where ZIP 48627 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostMay 19
First frostSep 23
2012 zone4b

Was 4b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Higgins Lake, 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 Higgins Lake, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 23median — 10% chance by Sep 6
Growing season125 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 4 and returns around October 5.

From the NOAA station Houghton Lk Roscommon Airport, MI — 8 miles away, elevation 1,152 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 48627

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
TomatoesTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 2 – Jun 16
BeansSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 29 – Aug 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 9 – Oct 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 19) and first fall frost (Sep 23) 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 48627 came on Apr 17 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 22).

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 5a in Michigan

551 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Michigan, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 54

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 103

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 207

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 166

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 7

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 honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Higgins Lake, MI.

Soil in Higgins Lake, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 48627 is Graycalm — sand, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureSanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.1strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter5.69%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Graycalm sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes.

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 48627; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Higgins Lake, MI

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days4days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights169nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,035base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 33 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 50 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation29.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall66 inper year; 104 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 27 °F, low 11 °F 27°11° JanFebruary: average high 30 °F, low 11 °F 30°11° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 19 °F 40°19° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 31 °F 54°31° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 42 °F 67°42° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 51 °F 77°51° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 55 °F 81°55° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 37 °F 57°37° OctNovember: average high 43 °F, low 28 °F 43°28° NovDecember: average high 32 °F, low 19 °F 32°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.70 in precipitation, 16.4 in snowfall 1.7❄16 JanFebruary: 1.41 in precipitation, 13.6 in snowfall 1.4❄14 FebMarch: 1.78 in precipitation, 8.3 in snowfall 1.8❄8 MarApril: 3.10 in precipitation, 4.4 in snowfall 3.1❄4 AprMay: 3.15 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.1 MayJune: 3.22 in precipitation 3.2 JunJuly: 2.74 in precipitation 2.7 JulAugust: 2.86 in precipitation 2.9 AugSeptember: 2.59 in precipitation 2.6 SepOctober: 3.08 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 3.1❄1 OctNovember: 2.20 in precipitation, 7.5 in snowfall 2.2❄8 NovDecember: 1.76 in precipitation, 15.1 in snowfall 1.8❄15 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Houghton Lk Roscommon Airport, MI (8 mi away); precipitation: Houghton Lk Roscommon Airport, MI (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

486535a
Roscommon, MI · 7 mi
486305a
Houghton Lake Heights, MI · 9 mi
486295a
Houghton Lake, MI · 10 mi
496675a
Merritt, MI · 12 mi
486515a
Prudenville, MI · 16 mi
486565a
Saint Helen, MI · 16 mi
497395a
Grayling, MI · 17 mi
497385a
Grayling, MI · 18 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 48627

What planting zone is ZIP code 48627?

ZIP code 48627 (Higgins Lake, MI) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Higgins Lake, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 48627 is May 19; after June 3 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Houghton Lk Roscommon Airport station.

When is the first frost in Higgins Lake, MI?

The median first fall frost near 48627 is September 23, giving a median frost-free growing season of 125 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 48627?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 24 – Apr 7 and set transplants outside around May 26 – Jun 9, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 48627 get?

About 29.6 inches of precipitation a year and 66 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Houghton Lk Roscommon Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Higgins Lake, MI?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 4 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 48627 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Graycalm at the center of ZIP 48627: sand, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 4.1 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Higgins Lake, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 48627 came on Apr 17 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 22), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Higgins Lake, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 48627 is 15 h 33 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 48627 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 48627 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.