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Your nature year

Muskegon, Michiganthrough the year

Also for Norton Shores, MI: the same nearby places.

When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Muskegon?

For a day trip, Shiawassee Refuge is 115 miles off; its fall foliage is the second or third week of October (usually). Shiawassee Refuge (115 mi) is the pick for spring migration, April and May are the best months to see spring migratory birds (local timing).

Muskegon usually sees its last spring frost around Apr 30 and its first fall frost around Oct 19, a frost-free stretch of about 172 days at NOAA's Muskegon Co Airport station, 4 miles away. About 4 weeks pass between first leaf and first bloom here. The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Apr 13 and first bloom around May 13. Head east for the closest of the 3 places we follow around Muskegon.

Updated Sep 27. Sources: US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) ↗ (opens in a new tab), US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Beyond Muskegon: Michigan all-year guide →

Near Muskegon right now

  • First fall frost usually around Oct 19 · last spring frost around Apr 30NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Muskegon Co Airport (4 mi, 50% dates)
    ~2 weeks
  • Horicon Refuge · 120 mi · Local timing: fallWildlife by season · in its window now
    In season
  • Shiawassee Refuge · 115 mi · Local timing: September and October are the best months for fall migratory birdsFall & winter wildlife · in its window now
    In season
  • Fall foliage · Shiawassee Refuge · 115 miUsually: the second or third week of October
    ~6 days

Nearby, season by season

Real places within 150 miles, straight-line

Fall foliage

Spring migration

  • Shiawassee Refuge · 115 miLocal timing: April and May are the best months to see spring migratory birds
    ~6 months

Wildflowers

  • Indiana Dunes · 119 miUsually: Most years, the wildflowers peak from late April through mid-May
    ~7 months

Wildlife by season

Fall & winter wildlife

  • Shiawassee Refuge · 115 miLocal timing: September and October are the best months for fall migratory birds
    In season

Muskegon's nature year

From the town's own dates and its nearest places
  • Spring migration · Shiawassee RefugeApr–May
  • Wildflowers · Indiana DunesApr–May
  • Spring green-upApr
  • Last spring frostApr
  • Wildlife by season · Horicon RefugeNowSep–Nov
  • Fall & winter wildlife · Shiawassee RefugeNowSep–Oct
  • First fall frostNowOct
  • Fall foliage · Shiawassee RefugeNowOct

Muskegon's year at a glance

  • Frost possible
  • Frost-free, ~Apr 30 to ~Oct 19
  • First leaf ~Apr 13
  • First bloom ~May 13
  • Today

Frost and green-up

Last spring frost

Apr 30

Average (50% date)

First fall frost

Oct 19

About 172 days without frost between

Spring green-up

Apr 13

First bloom around May 13

Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Muskegon Co Airport (4 mi from Muskegon), the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not. Green-up: the USA-NPN Spring Index, 1991–2020 average at the town.

Snow in Muskegon

NOAA 1991–2020 daily normals

Snow usually becomes possible around Nov 9 (our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%). NOAA's normals at Muskegon Co Airport (4 mi away): 87 inches of snow in an average year, about 26.6 days with 1 inch or more.

0%25%50%10% lineOctDecFebApr

NOAA's chance of at least 0.1 inch of snow on each date (one value per week, September to May), averaged over 1991–2020. A typical year, not a forecast.

Questions people ask

When is the first frost in Muskegon?

On average around Oct 19, and the last spring frost around Apr 30: about 172 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Muskegon Co Airport, 4 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).

When does spring green-up reach Muskegon?

The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Apr 13 and first bloom around May 13, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.

Where can I see fall foliage near Muskegon?

Shiawassee Refuge, 115 miles (usually: the second or third week of October); Indiana Dunes, 119 miles (usually around mid-October). Distances are straight-line.

Where can I see spring migration near Muskegon?

Shiawassee Refuge, 115 miles (local timing: April and May are the best months to see spring migratory birds). Distances are straight-line.

When does it start snowing in Muskegon?

Snow usually becomes possible around Nov 9: our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%, at Muskegon Co Airport. An average year brings 87 inches (NOAA 1991–2020). A typical year, not a forecast.Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal snowfall) ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (daily snowfall probabilities) ↗ (opens in a new tab)

How we know

US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · USA National Phenology Network, Spring Index 1991–2020 averages (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27)

All our sources and how we use them →