U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00142401 · Kansas

Frost Dates for El Dorado, KS

NOAA weather station El Dorado (USC00142401), Kansas · elevation 1290 ft (393 m) · hardiness zone 7a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 27only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 1350% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 2550% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season193 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at El Dorado, KSSpring: a frost after March 28 in 9 years out of 10, after April 13 in half of the years, after April 27 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 11 in 1 year out of 10, before October 25 in half of the years, before November 7 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 193 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 13First frost ~Oct 25Frost season at El Dorado, KSSpring: a frost after March 28 in 9 years out of 10, after April 13 in half of the years, after April 27 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 11 in 1 year out of 10, before October 25 in half of the years, before November 7 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 193 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 13First frost ~Oct 25
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 26 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 27October 11
50% (typical)April 13October 25
90% (likely)March 28November 7
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
193 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 3
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 2

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 11 (2 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 27 (2 days later). Frost-free season 199 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 El Dorado: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 27, 20% April 23, 30% April 19, 40% April 16, 50% April 13, 60% April 10, 70% April 6, 80% April 2, 90% March 28. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 22, 2022 April 15, 2023 April 24, 2024 March 28, 2025 April 8, 2026 March 18.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1Apr 27Apr 13Mar 282021: April 222022: April 152023: April 242024: March 282025: April 82026: March 18Fall at El Dorado: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 11, 20% October 17, 30% October 20, 40% October 23, 50% October 25, 60% October 28, 70% October 31, 80% November 2, 90% November 7. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 13, 2022 October 18, 2023 October 29, 2024 October 16, 2025 November 2.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 11Oct 25Nov 72021: November 132022: October 182023: October 292024: October 162025: November 2
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 22November 13
2022April 15October 18
2023April 24October 29
2024March 28October 16
2025April 8November 2
2026March 18season not over yet

What these dates mean

The cautious fall date in El Dorado for finishing the harvest is October 11, when there is only a 10 % chance that a light frost has arrived. For spring planting of tender crops the cautious date is April 27, which carries a 10 % chance of a frost later than that day; planting on March 28 would be a gamble with a 90 % chance of frost.

The 50 % dates are April 13 for light frost in spring and October 25 for light frost in fall; each marks the point where the odds of a frost are even. The hard-frost median dates are April 3 in spring and November 2 in fall, indicating equal likelihood of a 28 °F event. A hard frost at 28 °F can damage plant tissues that survive a light frost at 32 °F, so it is a more severe risk for tender crops.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after April 27" 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 11" 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 El Dorado, KSNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Cassoday, KS — 19 mi; 2 — Newton, KS — 31 mi; 3 — Eureka, KS — 32 mi; 4 — Wichita, KS — 35 mi; 5 — Winfield, KS — 37 mi.KS25 mi · 40 km1. Cassoday, KS — 19 mi12. Newton, KS — 31 mi23. Eureka, KS — 32 mi34. Wichita, KS — 35 mi45. Winfield, KS — 37 mi5
  1. Cassoday, KS 19 mi (31 km)
  2. Newton, KS 31 mi (50 km)
  3. Eureka, KS 32 mi (51 km)
  4. Wichita, KS 35 mi (56 km)
  5. Winfield, KS 37 mi (60 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 7a: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 37.8183, -96.8444.