How do I find my last frost date by ZIP code?

Enter your ZIP code in the calculator. It finds the nearest NOAA climate station and shows its 1991–2020 last spring and first fall freeze dates at 10%, 50% and 90% probability. If the nearest station is far away or at a very different elevation, pick another station from the list.

What do the 10%, 50% and 90% probabilities mean?

For the last spring frost, the 10% date is the date after which there is only a 1-in-10 chance of another 32 °F night; the 50% date is the median ("average") last frost; the 90% date is early, with a 9-in-10 chance of more frost. For fall it is reversed: the 10% date is the early date with a 1-in-10 chance that frost has already come. Use 10% for tender transplants and 50% for hardy crops.

Where do the frost dates come from?

From the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) U.S. Climate Normals for 1991–2020, the current official 30-year normals. NOAA derives the freeze probabilities from each station's daily minimum temperatures. ZIP code locations come from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0).

What is the difference between frost, a light freeze and a hard freeze?

32 °F (0 °C) is the standard "frost" or freeze threshold used for frost dates. 36 °F at the thermometer often still produces frost on plants on clear, calm nights, so it is a useful light-frost warning. 28 °F (−2 °C) is a hard freeze that damages most crops, including many cool-season ones.

Why are my zone dates different from the ZIP results?

USDA hardiness zones are based on the average coldest winter night, not on frost dates. Places in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart (compare coastal Seattle and inland Spokane), so the zone tab only gives rough averages. Use the ZIP or city lookup for real station data.

How accurate are frost dates?

They are climate probabilities, not forecasts. In any year the last frost can come 2–4 weeks earlier or later than the median. Valleys, low spots and higher elevations are colder than the station; cities and coasts are warmer. Watch the local forecast before planting tender crops.

What does "growing season" mean?

The number of days between the last spring frost and the first fall frost at the same probability level. At 50% it is the median frost-free season; at 10% it is a conservative season you can rely on in about 9 years out of 10.

Can I grow vegetables outside my recommended window?

Yes, with protection. Row covers, cold frames and low tunnels extend the season 2–4 weeks on both ends. Hardy crops like kale, spinach and carrots tolerate light frosts, and peas and lettuce are sown before the last frost on purpose.

Frost Date Calculator

Enter a ZIP code to get the last spring and first fall 32 °F frost dates at the nearest NOAA weather station (1991–2020 normals) at 10%, 50% and 90% probability, plus 28 °F hard-freeze dates, frost-free days and planting dates for six vegetables. A city list and rough zone averages are also included.

Find Frost Dates

US ZIP code

NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station. Data (≈320 KB) loads on first use.

Frost risk you accept

10% = only a 1-in-10 chance of frost after the spring date (or before the fall date). Use it for tomatoes, peppers and other tender plants.

Enter a ZIP code (or pick a city or zone), then click Calculate to see frost dates.

Last Spring Frost

First Fall Frost

Growing Season

frost-free days

Freeze probabilities

Threshold / chance	Last spring	First fall	Days

Season Timeline

JanAprJulOctDec

Frost risk Frost-free growing window

Planting Guide for Common Vegetables

Vegetable	Start Indoors	Transplant / Direct Sow	Note

Station dates are NOAA 1991–2020 climate probabilities, not a forecast. Your garden may be colder (valleys, higher ground) or warmer (city, coast) than the station.

Frost dates for 131 US cities (NOAA 1991–2020)

32 °F freeze. "Median" = 50% probability; "Safe after" = 10% chance of a later spring frost. Nearest first-order weather station to each city.

City	Last frost (median)	Safe after	First fall frost	Days	Station
Birmingham, Alabama	Mar 21	Apr 8	Nov 11	235	BIRMINGHAM AP, AL
Huntsville, Alabama	Mar 24	Apr 8	Nov 8	229	HUNTSVILLE INTL AP, AL
Mobile, Alabama	Feb 21	Mar 15	Dec 6	288	MOBILE DWTN AP, AL
Anchorage, Alaska	May 1	May 9	Sep 29	151	ANCHORAGE MERRILL FLD, AK
Fairbanks, Alaska	May 13	May 26	Sep 13	123	FAIRBANKS INTL AP, AK
Flagstaff, Arizona	Jun 4	Jun 19	Sep 28	116	FLAGSTAFF PULLIAM AP, AZ
Phoenix, Arizona	Jan 5	Jan 22	Jan 3	363	PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTL AP, AZ
Tucson, Arizona	Feb 5	Mar 2	Dec 9	307	TUCSON INTL AP, AZ
Fayetteville, Arkansas	Apr 15	May 1	Oct 21	189	FAYETTEVILLE DRAKE FLD, AR
Little Rock, Arkansas	Mar 21	Apr 6	Nov 10	234	LITTLE ROCK AP ADAMS FLD, AR
Fresno, California	Jan 14	Feb 11	Dec 14	334	FRESNO YOSEMITE INTL AP, CA
Los Angeles, California	Frost-free	—	—	365	LOS ANGELES DWTN USC CAMPUS, CA
Sacramento, California	Jan 12	Feb 8	Dec 16	338	SACRAMENTO 5 ESE, CA
San Diego, California	Frost-free	—	—	365	SAN DIEGO LINDBERGH FLD, CA
San Francisco, California	Frost-free	—	—	365	SAN FRANCISCO DWTN, CA
Colorado Springs, Colorado	May 3	May 15	Oct 8	158	COLORADO SPRINGS MUNI AP, CO
Denver, Colorado	May 4	May 16	Oct 8	157	DENVER-STAPLETON, CO
Pueblo, Colorado	Apr 30	May 12	Oct 9	162	PUEBLO MEM AP, CO
Hartford, Connecticut	Apr 17	May 1	Oct 26	192	HARTFORD BRAINARD FLD, CT
New Haven, Connecticut	Apr 17	May 1	Oct 27	193	NEW HAVEN TWEED AP, CT
Wilmington, Delaware	Apr 7	Apr 21	Nov 1	208	WILMINGTON NEW CASTLE CO AP, DE
Jacksonville, Florida	Feb 1	Mar 3	Jan 5	338	JACKSONVILLE NAS, FL
Miami, Florida	Frost-free	—	—	365	MIAMI INTL AP, FL
Orlando, Florida	Jan 17	Feb 9	Jan 13	361	ORLANDO EXECUTIVE AP, FL
Pensacola, Florida	Feb 14	Mar 11	Dec 9	298	PENSACOLA RGNL AP, FL
Tampa, Florida	Jan 20	Feb 10	Jan 12	357	TAMPA INTL AP, FL
Atlanta, Georgia	Mar 25	Apr 12	Nov 9	229	ATLANTA PEACHTREE AP, GA
Augusta, Georgia	Feb 27	Mar 19	Dec 4	280	AUGUSTA DANIEL FLD AP, GA
Savannah, Georgia	Mar 2	Mar 25	Nov 30	273	SAVANNAH INTL AP, GA
Honolulu, Hawaii	Frost-free	—	—	365	HONOLULU INTL AP, HI
Boise, Idaho	Apr 24	May 9	Oct 21	180	BOISE AIR TERMINAL, ID
Pocatello, Idaho	May 23	Jun 13	Sep 18	118	POCATELLO RGNL AP, ID
Chicago, Illinois	Apr 11	Apr 27	Oct 31	203	CHICAGO MIDWAY AP, IL
Peoria, Illinois	Apr 16	May 4	Oct 23	190	PEORIA GTR PEORIA AP, IL
Springfield, Illinois	Apr 14	Apr 29	Oct 20	189	SPRINGFIELD CAPITAL AP, IL
Fort Wayne, Indiana	Apr 24	May 10	Oct 21	180	FT WAYNE INTL AP, IN
Indianapolis, Indiana	Apr 12	Apr 29	Oct 29	200	INDIANAPOLIS EAGLE CREEK AP, IN
Cedar Rapids, Iowa	Apr 27	May 11	Oct 11	167	CEDAR RAPIDS MUNI AP, IA
Des Moines, Iowa	Apr 18	May 2	Oct 20	185	DES MOINES INTL AP, IA
Topeka, Kansas	Apr 12	Apr 27	Oct 23	194	TOPEKA MUNI AP, KS
Wichita, Kansas	Apr 11	Apr 26	Oct 29	201	WICHITA, KS
Lexington, Kentucky	Apr 13	May 1	Oct 28	198	LEXINGTON BLUEGRASS AP, KY
Louisville, Kentucky	Apr 3	Apr 19	Nov 3	214	LOUISVILLE BOWMAN FLD, KY
Baton Rouge, Louisiana	Feb 25	Mar 19	Nov 26	274	BATON ROUGE RYAN AP, LA
New Orleans, Louisiana	Jan 24	Feb 23	Jan 2	343	NEW ORLEANS AUDUBON, LA
Shreveport, Louisiana	Feb 28	Mar 19	Nov 24	269	SHREVEPORT DWTN AP, LA
Bangor, Maine	May 4	May 17	Oct 4	153	BANGOR INTL AP, ME
Portland, Maine	Apr 26	May 7	Oct 15	172	PORTLAND INTL JETPORT, ME
Annapolis, Maryland	Mar 23	Apr 6	Nov 20	242	ANNAPOLIS NAF, MD
Baltimore, Maryland	Mar 24	Apr 4	Nov 21	242	MD SCI CTR BALTIMORE, MD
Boston, Massachusetts	Apr 4	Apr 17	Nov 9	219	BOSTON LOGAN INTL AP, MA
Springfield, Massachusetts	May 3	May 17	Oct 8	158	WESTFIELD BARNES MUNI AP, MA
Worcester, Massachusetts	Apr 23	May 5	Oct 21	181	WORCESTER RGNL AP, MA
Detroit, Michigan	Apr 21	May 6	Oct 31	193	DETROIT CITY AP, MI
Grand Rapids, Michigan	Apr 29	May 15	Oct 20	174	GRAND RAPIDS, MI
Lansing, Michigan	May 1	May 18	Oct 13	165	LANSING CAPITAL CITY AP, MI
Duluth, Minnesota	May 13	May 29	Oct 1	141	DULUTH, MN
Minneapolis, Minnesota	Apr 30	May 17	Oct 8	161	MPLS CRYSTAL AP, MN
Rochester, Minnesota	Apr 30	May 13	Oct 6	159	ROCHESTER INTL AP, MN
Biloxi, Mississippi	Feb 23	Mar 16	Dec 3	283	GULFPORT - BILOXI AP, MS
Jackson, Mississippi	Mar 6	Mar 24	Nov 19	258	JACKSON HAWKINS FLD, MS
Kansas City, Missouri	Apr 4	Apr 20	Nov 2	212	KANSAS CITY DOWNTOWN AP, MO
Springfield, Missouri	Apr 4	Apr 20	Oct 27	206	SPRINGFIELD WBO, MO
St. Louis, Missouri	Apr 8	Apr 23	Oct 26	201	CAHOKIA ST LOUIS AP, IL
Billings, Montana	May 4	May 18	Oct 7	156	BILLINGS LOGAN INTL AP, MT
Great Falls, Montana	May 19	Jun 2	Sep 24	128	GREAT FALLS INTL AP, MT
Missoula, Montana	May 16	Jun 1	Sep 26	133	MISSOULA INTL AP, MT
Lincoln, Nebraska	Apr 24	May 7	Oct 13	172	LINCOLN MUNI AP, NE
Omaha, Nebraska	Apr 18	Apr 30	Oct 21	186	OMAHA EPPLEY AIRFIELD, NE
Las Vegas, Nevada	Jan 24	Feb 19	Dec 10	320	LAS VEGAS AIR TERMINAL, NV
Reno, Nevada	Apr 20	May 5	Oct 23	186	RENO TAHOE INTL AP, NV
Concord, New Hampshire	May 8	May 22	Oct 3	148	CONCORD MUNI AP, NH
Manchester, New Hampshire	Apr 21	May 6	Oct 19	181	MANCHESTER AP, NH
Newark, New Jersey	Apr 2	Apr 15	Nov 10	222	NEWARK INTL AP, NJ
Trenton, New Jersey	Apr 10	Apr 25	Nov 1	205	TRENTON MERCER CO AP, NJ
Albuquerque, New Mexico	Apr 6	Apr 23	Nov 3	211	ALBUQUERQUE INTL AP, NM
Santa Fe, New Mexico	May 4	May 17	Oct 15	164	SANTA FE CO MUNI AP, NM
Albany, New York	Apr 27	May 11	Oct 15	171	ALBANY AP, NY
Buffalo, New York	Apr 24	May 9	Oct 26	185	BUFFALO, NY
New York City, New York	Mar 30	Apr 9	Nov 20	235	NEW YORK CNTRL PK TWR, NY
Syracuse, New York	Apr 29	May 13	Oct 19	173	SYRACUSE HANCOCK INTL AP, NY
Asheville, North Carolina	Apr 6	Apr 24	Oct 31	208	ASHEVILLE, NC
Charlotte, North Carolina	Mar 30	Apr 14	Nov 3	218	CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS AP, NC
Raleigh, North Carolina	Mar 31	Apr 16	Nov 4	218	RALEIGH DURHAM INTL AP, NC
Bismarck, North Dakota	May 14	May 27	Sep 27	136	BISMARCK, ND
Fargo, North Dakota	May 10	May 23	Sep 30	143	FARGO HECTOR INTL AP, ND
Cincinnati, Ohio	Apr 16	May 3	Oct 25	192	CINCINNATI LUNKEN AP, OH
Cleveland, Ohio	Apr 8	Apr 20	Nov 12	218	CLEVELAND BURKE AP, OH
Columbus, Ohio	Apr 18	May 5	Oct 27	192	COLUMBUS PORT COLUMBUS INTL AP, OH
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma	Apr 2	Apr 18	Nov 4	216	OKLAHOMA CITY POST AP, OK
Tulsa, Oklahoma	Mar 31	Apr 15	Nov 4	218	TULSA INTL AP, OK
Eugene, Oregon	Apr 11	May 9	Oct 23	195	EUGENE MAHLON SWEET AP, OR
Medford, Oregon	Apr 8	Apr 30	Oct 29	204	MEDFORD ROGUE VLY AP, OR
Portland, Oregon	Mar 13	Apr 1	Nov 19	251	PORTLAND INTL AP, OR
Salem, Oregon	Apr 3	Apr 27	Nov 1	212	SALEM MCNARY FLD, OR
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania	Apr 9	Apr 25	Nov 1	206	HARRISBURG CPTL CY AP, PA
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Apr 4	Apr 17	Nov 7	217	PHILADELPHIA NE AP, PA
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Apr 18	May 6	Oct 28	193	PITTSBURGH ALLEGHENY CO AP, PA
Providence, Rhode Island	Apr 11	Apr 23	Oct 30	202	PROVIDENCE T F GREEN AP, RI
Charleston, South Carolina	Feb 4	Mar 4	Dec 30	329	CHARLESTON CITY, SC
Columbia, South Carolina	Mar 13	Mar 31	Nov 19	251	COLUMBIA OWENS DWTN AP, SC
Greenville, South Carolina	Mar 16	Apr 2	Nov 20	249	GREENVILLE DWTN AP, SC
Rapid City, South Dakota	May 12	May 26	Oct 1	142	RAPID CITY RGNL AP, SD
Sioux Falls, South Dakota	May 1	May 14	Oct 6	158	SIOUX FALLS, SD
Knoxville, Tennessee	Apr 1	Apr 17	Nov 2	215	KNOXVILLE MCGHEE TYSON AP, TN
Memphis, Tennessee	Mar 16	Apr 4	Nov 16	245	MEMPHIS INTL AP, TN
Nashville, Tennessee	Mar 31	Apr 16	Nov 3	217	NASHVILLE INTL AP, TN
Amarillo, Texas	Apr 13	Apr 29	Oct 27	197	AMARILLO, TX
Austin, Texas	Feb 20	Mar 14	Dec 3	286	AUSTIN-CAMP MABRY, TX
Dallas, Texas	Mar 2	Mar 19	Nov 29	272	DALLAS LOVE FLD, TX
El Paso, Texas	Mar 2	Mar 19	Nov 20	263	EL PASO INTL AP, TX
Houston, Texas	Feb 13	Mar 12	Dec 9	299	HOUSTON INTERCONT AP, TX
Lubbock, Texas	Apr 4	Apr 22	Nov 2	212	LUBBOCK, TX
San Antonio, Texas	Feb 26	Mar 17	Nov 28	275	SAN ANTONIO INTL AP, TX
Provo, Utah	Apr 18	May 5	Oct 21	186	PROVO BYU, UT
Salt Lake City, Utah	Apr 8	Apr 30	Oct 31	206	SALT LAKE CITY INTL AP, UT
Burlington, Vermont	Apr 29	May 11	Oct 15	169	BURLINGTON INTL AP, VT
Montpelier, Vermont	May 16	May 30	Sep 29	136	BARRE MONTPELIER AP, VT
Norfolk, Virginia	Mar 17	Mar 31	Nov 23	251	NORFOLK INTL AP, VA
Richmond, Virginia	Apr 3	Apr 18	Nov 4	215	RICHMOND INTL AP, VA
Roanoke, Virginia	Apr 3	Apr 18	Nov 1	212	ROANOKE RGNL AP, VA
Seattle, Washington	Mar 13	Apr 1	Nov 17	249	SEATTLE BOEING FLD, WA
Spokane, Washington	Apr 26	May 10	Oct 15	172	SPOKANE FELTS FLD, WA
Tacoma, Washington	Mar 11	Apr 2	Nov 21	255	TACOMA NARROWS AP, WA
Charleston, West Virginia	Apr 16	May 5	Oct 26	193	CHARLESTON YEAGER AP, WV
Huntington, West Virginia	Apr 14	May 3	Oct 26	195	HUNTINGTON TRI STATE AP, WV
Green Bay, Wisconsin	Apr 30	May 16	Oct 9	162	GREEN BAY, WI
Madison, Wisconsin	May 1	May 16	Oct 10	162	MADISON DANE RGNL AP, WI
Milwaukee, Wisconsin	Apr 19	May 2	Oct 29	193	MILWAUKEE MITCHELL AP, WI
Casper, Wyoming	May 26	Jun 10	Sep 22	119	CASPER NATRONA CO AP, WY
Cheyenne, Wyoming	May 12	May 26	Oct 1	142	CHEYENNE, WY

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual freeze probabilities (ANN-TMIN-PRBLST/PRBFST). "Frost-free" = 32 °F occurs in fewer than half of years.

Summary

The Frost Date Calculator looks up the NOAA weather station nearest to your ZIP code and reads its 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals freeze probabilities. NOAA publishes, for each station, the date after which a spring low of 32 °F (or 28 °F, 36 °F) has a 10%, 50% or 90% chance of still occurring, and the matching dates for the first fall freeze. The 50% date is the usual "average last frost"; the 10% date is the cautious choice for tender transplants such as tomatoes and peppers. The calculator also shows the frost-free growing season, a season timeline and start-indoors, transplant and direct-sow dates for six common vegetables. Results describe the station's climate, not your exact garden: low spots, valleys and higher elevations frost later in spring and earlier in fall.

How it works

Enter a 5-digit US ZIP code (or pick a city, or a hardiness zone for a rough estimate).
The ZIP centroid is matched to the nearest of about 7,100 NOAA stations with freeze normals; the three closest stations are listed so you can switch.
Choose a frost risk: 10% (cautious), 50% (median) or 90% (early, risky).
The tool reads the station's last spring and first fall 32 °F dates for that probability and computes the frost-free days between them.
A table lists all probability levels plus 28 °F hard-freeze and 36 °F light-frost dates.
Planting dates for six vegetables are counted from the selected last spring frost date.

Use cases

Determine when it is safe to transplant tomatoes and peppers outdoors.
Plan succession planting windows for cool-season crops like peas and lettuce.
Estimate how many frost-free days are available for long-season crops.
Decide when to start seeds indoors before the last spring frost.
Plan fall planting of cold-tolerant crops before the first fall frost.
Compare the frost risk of two locations before moving or buying land.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-10-10 · Reviewed by Nham Vu