Key takeaways
- Median first freeze at Detroit Metro: October 29. The median first hard freeze (28°F) is November 8, from our count of 30 falls of NOAA records.
- Median first two-inch snow: December 12. Last year the first one came November 9.
- Curbside yard waste pickup ends between Thanksgiving week and mid-December in 20 of 26 communities, and bags set out late sit until spring.
- Oaks drop late. A yard under oaks may need a later date or a second pass.
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Late October through November: after the bulk of your trees have dropped, and at least a week before your community’s last curbside yard waste pickup, so a rainy week does not leave you with bags at the curb until April.
When does it freeze in Macomb County?
We counted the first fall lows of 32°F and 28°F at Detroit Metro Airport, the official station for southeast Michigan, for each of the last 30 falls (1996 to 2025) from NOAA’s ACIS daily records:
| First fall low | Median date | Earliest | Latest | Fall 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F (first freeze) | October 29 | October 8 (2001) | November 21 (2024) | November 2 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | November 8 | October 22 (1997) | November 29 (2024) | November 10 |
Our count from NOAA ACIS daily minimum temperatures at Detroit Metro Airport (DTW). Inland and northern parts of the county can freeze earlier than the airport, and the lakeshore later.
A frost does not end fall cleanup season, but it is the signal that the grass is slowing down and the leaves are coming fast.
When does it snow?
Across the same 30 winters, the median date of the first measurable snow at Detroit Metro is November 20, and the median first snow of two inches or more is December 12. Last year the first two-inch snow came early, on November 9. Leaves still on the lawn when the first real snow lands stay there, matted, until March. See when the first snow usually falls.
When does yard waste pickup end?
This is the deadline that matters most if your leaves leave in bags. In fall 2026:
- December 11: Sterling Heights, St. Clair Shores (the second Friday in December), and the season end Priority Waste lists for Macomb Township, Shelby Township, Eastpointe and Utica.
- December 4: Mount Clemens, and the season end listed for Roseville, Fraser and New Baltimore.
- December 1: Warren, by its 2026 calendar, though the city has extended past seasons.
- Thanksgiving week: the Village of Armada, Romeo, Richmond and New Haven.
The full list, with sources, is in leaf pickup and yard waste rules by community.
One visit or two?
Most yards are done in one visit once the bulk of the trees have dropped. Oaks hold their leaves later than most trees, and a yard under big oaks, or with a neighbor’s trees dropping into it, may need a second pass. Booking one early cleanup and one late is common for those yards.
Should you wait for every last leaf?
No. Waiting for the last leaf usually means racing the last pickup and the first snow. Get the bulk off when most have dropped, and let a final mow chop up the stragglers.
Sources
- NOAA Regional Climate Centers, ACIS daily records for Detroit Metro Airport (DTW), falls of 1996 to 2025; our count of the first 32°F and 28°F lows each fall
- Sterling Heights: Yard Waste Collection
- St. Clair Shores: Garbage, Recycling & Yard Waste
- City of Mount Clemens 2026 yard waste schedule
- City of Warren 2026 calendar
- MSU Extension: it’s not too late to mulch fallen leaves into lawns — up to 6 inches of leaves mulched at a time, depending on the mower
Written by the Macomb Lawn & Snow Solutions team in Macomb Township, Michigan. We do fall cleanups and lawn work near our routes, and plow and salt homes and businesses across all 26 Macomb County communities, November 15 to April 15. Published October 15, 2026. About us · How we research these guides · How our dispatch works