U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00121739 · Indiana

Frost Dates for Columbia City, IN

NOAA weather station Columbia City (USC00121739), Indiana · elevation 834 ft (254 m) · hardiness zone 6a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 14only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 2750% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 1750% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season171 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone6acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Columbia City, INSpring: a frost after April 14 in 9 years out of 10, after April 27 in half of the years, after May 14 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 1 in 1 year out of 10, before October 17 in half of the years, before November 1 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 171 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 27First frost ~Oct 17Frost season at Columbia City, INSpring: a frost after April 14 in 9 years out of 10, after April 27 in half of the years, after May 14 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 1 in 1 year out of 10, before October 17 in half of the years, before November 1 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 171 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 27First frost ~Oct 17
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 25 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)May 14October 1
50% (typical)April 27October 17
90% (likely)April 14November 1
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
171 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 16
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
October 29

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 26 (1 day earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 21 (4 days later). Frost-free season 176 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 Columbia City: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 14, 20% May 7, 30% May 3, 40% April 30, 50% April 27, 60% April 24, 70% April 21, 80% April 18, 90% April 14. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2022 April 27, 2023 April 27, 2024 May 30, 2025 April 17, 2026 May 22.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1Jun 1May 14Apr 27Apr 142022: April 272023: April 272024: May 302025: April 172026: May 22Fall at Columbia City: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 1, 20% October 7, 30% October 11, 40% October 14, 50% October 17, 60% October 20, 70% October 23, 80% October 27, 90% November 1. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2022 October 4, 2023 October 22, 2024 October 15, 2025 October 23.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 1Oct 17Nov 12022: October 42023: October 222024: October 152025: October 23
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
2021incomplete recordincomplete record
2022April 27October 4
2023April 27October 22
2024May 30October 15
2025April 17October 23
2026May 22season not over yet

What these dates mean

Setting out tender crops on April 14 in Columbia City carries a 90 % chance of a frost later that season, making it a gamble for growers.

The 50 % light-frost dates are April 27 in spring and October 17 in fall; each marks an even chance of a frost later in spring and earlier in fall. For a cautious schedule, tender crops are normally placed outdoors on May 14, when only a 10 % chance of a later frost remains, and are harvested by October 1, when there is only a 10 % chance that a frost has arrived earlier.

Hard frost at 28 °F, noted on April 16 and October 29, can damage plants more severely than the 32 °F light frost, so its timing is especially critical for winter survival.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after May 14" 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 1" 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 Columbia City, INNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Fort Wayne, IN — 19 mi; 2 — Huntington, IN — 20 mi; 3 — Garrett, IN — 23 mi; 4 — Bluffton, IN — 29 mi; 5 — Goshen, IN — 35 mi.INOHMI25 mi · 40 km1. Fort Wayne, IN — 19 mi12. Huntington, IN — 20 mi23. Garrett, IN — 23 mi34. Bluffton, IN — 29 mi45. Goshen, IN — 35 mi5
  1. Fort Wayne, IN 19 mi (31 km)
  2. Huntington, IN 20 mi (32 km)
  3. Garrett, IN 23 mi (38 km)
  4. Bluffton, IN 29 mi (46 km)
  5. Goshen, IN 35 mi (56 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 6a: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 41.1453, -85.4897.