U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00032794 · Arkansas

Frost Dates for Gilbert, AR

NOAA weather station Gilbert (USC00032794), Arkansas · elevation 606 ft (185 m) · hardiness zone 7a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 30only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 1450% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 2250% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season189 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Gilbert, ARSpring: a frost after March 30 in 9 years out of 10, after April 14 in half of the years, after April 30 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 7 in 1 year out of 10, before October 22 in half of the years, before November 4 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 189 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 14First frost ~Oct 22Frost season at Gilbert, ARSpring: a frost after March 30 in 9 years out of 10, after April 14 in half of the years, after April 30 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 7 in 1 year out of 10, before October 22 in half of the years, before November 4 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 189 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 14First frost ~Oct 22
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)April 30October 7
50% (typical)April 14October 22
90% (likely)March 30November 4
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
189 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 3
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
October 31

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 10 (4 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 27 (5 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 Gilbert: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 30, 20% April 25, 30% April 21, 40% April 18, 50% April 14, 60% April 11, 70% April 8, 80% April 4, 90% March 30. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 22, 2022 April 10, 2023 April 17, 2024 April 22, 2025 April 7, 2026 March 29.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1Apr 30Apr 14Mar 302021: April 222022: April 102023: April 172024: April 222025: April 72026: March 29Fall at Gilbert: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 7, 20% October 12, 30% October 16, 40% October 19, 50% October 22, 60% October 25, 70% October 28, 80% October 31, 90% November 4. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 4, 2022 October 14, 2023 October 31, 2024 October 16, 2025 October 31.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 7Oct 22Nov 42021: November 42022: October 142023: October 312024: October 162025: October 31
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 4
2022April 10October 14
2023April 17October 31
2024April 22October 16
2025April 7October 31
2026March 29season not over yet

What these dates mean

April 30 is the cautious spring date for Gilbert; with only a 10 % chance of a light frost after that day, a gardener can plan to set out tender crops with minimal risk. The 50% light-frost date is April 14, meaning there is an even chance of frost on either side of that day, while the 50% hard-frost date is April 3, indicating when a 28 °F freeze becomes equally likely.

October 7 is the cautious fall date, carrying only a 10 % chance that a light frost has arrived earlier, so it marks a reliable point to finish harvesting tender crops. The 50% light-frost date in autumn is October 22, and the 50% hard-frost date is October 31, each representing the median point for their respective frost types.

A hard frost at 28 °F can damage or kill plants that survive a 32 °F light frost, making it a more critical concern for garden planning.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after April 30" 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 7" 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 Gilbert, ARNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Harrison, AR — 31 mi; 2 — Lead Hill, AR — 32 mi; 3 — Calico Rock, AR — 32 mi; 4 — near Heber Springs, AR — 52 mi; 5 — Ozark Beach, MO — 52 mi.MO25 mi · 40 km1. Harrison, AR — 31 mi12. Lead Hill, AR — 32 mi23. Calico Rock, AR — 32 mi34. near Heber Springs, AR — 52 mi45. Ozark Beach, MO — 52 mi5
  1. Harrison, AR 31 mi (50 km)
  2. Lead Hill, AR 32 mi (51 km)
  3. Calico Rock, AR 32 mi (51 km)
  4. near Heber Springs, AR 52 mi (83 km)
  5. Ozark Beach, MO 52 mi (84 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: 35.9886, -92.7161.