U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00402806 · Tennessee

Frost Dates for Elizabethton, TN

NOAA weather station Elizabethton (USC00402806), Tennessee · elevation 1487 ft (453 m) · hardiness zone 7b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 7only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 1950% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 2450% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season187 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Elizabethton, TNSpring: a frost after April 2 in 9 years out of 10, after April 19 in half of the years, after May 7 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 10 in 1 year out of 10, before October 24 in half of the years, before November 5 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 187 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 19First frost ~Oct 24Frost season at Elizabethton, TNSpring: a frost after April 2 in 9 years out of 10, after April 19 in half of the years, after May 7 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 10 in 1 year out of 10, before October 24 in half of the years, before November 5 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 187 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 19First frost ~Oct 24
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 30 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)May 7October 10
50% (typical)April 19October 24
90% (likely)April 2November 5
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
187 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 5
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 1

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 17 (2 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 26 (2 days later). Frost-free season 192 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 Elizabethton: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 7, 20% May 1, 30% April 27, 40% April 23, 50% April 19, 60% April 16, 70% April 12, 80% April 8, 90% April 2. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 25, 2022 April 20, 2023 April 26, 2024 April 23, 2025 April 13, 2026 March 20.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1May 7Apr 19Apr 22021: April 252022: April 202023: April 262024: April 232025: April 132026: March 20Fall at Elizabethton: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 10, 20% October 15, 30% October 18, 40% October 21, 50% October 24, 60% October 27, 70% October 30, 80% November 1, 90% November 5. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 5, 2022 October 18, 2023 November 1, 2024 October 18, 2025 October 23.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 10Oct 24Nov 52021: November 52022: October 182023: November 12024: October 182025: 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
2021April 25November 5
2022April 20October 18
2023April 26November 1
2024April 23October 18
2025April 13October 23
2026March 20season not over yet

What these dates mean

Setting out tender crops on the early spring date of April 2 carries a 90% chance of a frost later than that date, making it a gamble for gardeners in Elizabethton. The cautious spring date is May 7, when only a 10% chance of a frost later than the date remains. The 50% date is April 19, indicating an even odds of a frost occurring after that point; it is not itself a frost date.

In the fall, the cautious date to finish harvesting tender crops is October 10, with a 10% chance of a frost earlier than the date, while counting on crops until November 5 is a gamble because a 90% chance of a frost earlier exists. The 50% date is October 24, marking even odds of a frost before then. The hard-frost median dates are April 5 and November 1, and a hard frost at 28 °F can damage plants that survive a light frost at 32 °F, 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 7" 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 10" 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 Elizabethton, TNNumbered nearest stations: 1 — near Bristol, TN — 12 mi; 2 — Erwin, TN — 18 mi; 3 — Kingsport, TN — 19 mi; 4 — near Banner Elk, NC — 24 mi; 5 — near Mountain City, TN — 26 mi.NCTNVA25 mi · 40 km1. near Bristol, TN — 12 mi12. Erwin, TN — 18 mi23. Kingsport, TN — 19 mi34. near Banner Elk, NC — 24 mi45. near Mountain City, TN — 26 mi5
  1. near Bristol, TN 12 mi (19 km)
  2. Erwin, TN 18 mi (28 km)
  3. Kingsport, TN 19 mi (31 km)
  4. near Banner Elk, NC 24 mi (38 km)
  5. near Mountain City, TN 26 mi (42 km)

Sources

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

Station coordinates: 36.3539, -82.2486.