U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USW00014742 · Vermont

Frost Dates for Burlington, VT

NOAA weather station Burlington International Airport (USW00014742), Vermont · elevation 330 ft (101 m) · hardiness zone 5a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 11only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 2950% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 1550% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season169 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone5acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Burlington, VTSpring: a frost after April 17 in 9 years out of 10, after April 29 in half of the years, after May 11 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 2 in 1 year out of 10, before October 15 in half of the years, before November 1 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 169 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 29First frost ~Oct 15Frost season at Burlington, VTSpring: a frost after April 17 in 9 years out of 10, after April 29 in half of the years, after May 11 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 2 in 1 year out of 10, before October 15 in half of the years, before November 1 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 169 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 29First frost ~Oct 15
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 29 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)May 11October 2
50% (typical)April 29October 15
90% (likely)April 17November 1
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
169 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 18
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
October 28

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 26 (3 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 19 (4 days later). Frost-free season 174 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at Burlington: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 11, 20% May 6, 30% May 3, 40% May 1, 50% April 29, 60% April 26, 70% April 24, 80% April 21, 90% April 17. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 27, 2022 April 30, 2023 May 18, 2024 April 26, 2025 April 21, 2026 April 24.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%May 1May 11Apr 29Apr 172021: April 272022: April 302023: May 182024: April 262025: April 212026: April 24Fall at Burlington: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 2, 20% October 6, 30% October 9, 40% October 12, 50% October 15, 60% October 18, 70% October 22, 80% October 26, 90% November 1. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 October 24, 2022 October 28, 2023 October 31, 2024 October 17, 2025 October 10.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 2Oct 15Nov 12021: October 242022: October 282023: October 312024: October 172025: October 10
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there. ◆ marks the actual date in each recent year.

What actually happened in recent years

Observed dates of the last spring and first fall frost (32°F) at this station; ◆ marks them on the charts above
YearLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2021April 27October 24
2022April 30October 28
2023May 18October 31
2024April 26October 17
2025April 21October 10
2026April 24season not over yet

What these dates mean

May 11 is the cautious spring date, meaning there is only a 10 % chance of a light frost later and tender crops can be set out with minimal risk. Gardeners can schedule planting of delicate vegetables or seedlings around that day, knowing the probability of a damaging frost is low.

The 50% date is April 29; on that day the chance of a light frost later is exactly fifty-fifty, so the odds are evenly split. The 50% date is October 15; on that day the chance of a light frost earlier is fifty-fifty. The cautious fall date is October 2, when there is only a 10 % chance that a light frost has already arrived, allowing harvest and final garden tasks to be planned with confidence. The 50% hard-frost dates are April 18 and October 28; hard frost at 28 °F can damage plants that survive a 32 °F light frost, making it a more serious threat.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after May 11" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before October 2" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near Burlington, VTNumbered nearest stations: 1 — South Hero, VT — 13 mi; 2 — near Stowe, VT — 17 mi; 3 — Peru, NY — 22 mi; 4 — Dannemora, NY — 33 mi; 5 — near Barre, VT — 34 mi.NY25 mi · 40 km1. South Hero, VT — 13 mi12. near Stowe, VT — 17 mi23. Peru, NY — 22 mi34. Dannemora, NY — 33 mi45. near Barre, VT — 34 mi5
  1. South Hero, VT 13 mi (21 km)
  2. near Stowe, VT 17 mi (27 km)
  3. Peru, NY 22 mi (35 km)
  4. Dannemora, NY 33 mi (53 km)
  5. near Barre, VT 34 mi (54 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 5a: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 44.4683, -73.15.