U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00143954 · Kansas

Frost Dates for Independence, KS

NOAA weather station Independence (USC00143954), Kansas · elevation 805 ft (245 m) · hardiness zone 7a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 23only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 550% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 3150% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season208 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Independence, KSSpring: a frost after March 20 in 9 years out of 10, after April 5 in half of the years, after April 23 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 16 in 1 year out of 10, before October 31 in half of the years, before November 13 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 208 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 5First frost ~Oct 31Frost season at Independence, KSSpring: a frost after March 20 in 9 years out of 10, after April 5 in half of the years, after April 23 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 16 in 1 year out of 10, before October 31 in half of the years, before November 13 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 208 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 5First frost ~Oct 31
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 27 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 23October 16
50% (typical)April 5October 31
90% (likely)March 20November 13
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
208 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 26
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 8

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 6 (1 day later than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 30 (1 day earlier). Frost-free season 206 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 Independence: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 23, 20% April 16, 30% April 12, 40% April 8, 50% April 5, 60% April 3, 70% March 31, 80% March 28, 90% March 20. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 22, 2022 April 15, 2023 April 24, 2024 March 29, 2025 April 8, 2026 March 18.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1Apr 23Apr 5Mar 202021: April 222022: April 152023: April 242024: March 292025: April 82026: March 18Fall at Independence: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 16, 20% October 22, 30% October 25, 40% October 28, 50% October 31, 60% November 1, 70% November 3, 80% November 7, 90% November 13. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 13, 2022 October 18, 2023 October 30, 2024 October 16, 2025 November 2.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Oct 16Oct 31Nov 132021: November 132022: October 182023: October 302024: 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 30
2024March 29October 16
2025April 8November 2
2026March 18season not over yet

What these dates mean

April 23 is the cautious spring light-frost date for Independence; with only a 10 % chance of a frost later, a gardener can plan to set out tender crops after that day with minimal risk. The earlier April 5 mark is the 50 % date, meaning there is an even chance of a frost later than this date, while the March 20 date carries a 90 % chance and would be a gamble for tender plantings.

In the fall, October 16 serves as the cautious date, offering a 10 % chance that a frost has already arrived, so harvesting or final planting of tender crops can be scheduled safely before then. The 50 % date is October 31, indicating an even chance of a frost earlier than that day, and the November 13 date is a 90 % gamble. The hard-frost 50 % dates are March 26 in spring and November 8 in fall; hard frosts (28 °F) can damage plants more severely than light frosts (32 °F).

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after April 23" 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 16" 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 Independence, KSNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Mound Valley, KS — 14 mi; 2 — Parsons, KS — 24 mi; 3 — Sedan, KS — 27 mi; 4 — near Chanute, KS — 32 mi; 5 — Howard, KS — 35 mi.KSOK25 mi · 40 km1. Mound Valley, KS — 14 mi12. Parsons, KS — 24 mi23. Sedan, KS — 27 mi34. near Chanute, KS — 32 mi45. Howard, KS — 35 mi5
  1. Mound Valley, KS 14 mi (23 km)
  2. Parsons, KS 24 mi (39 km)
  3. Sedan, KS 27 mi (44 km)
  4. near Chanute, KS 32 mi (52 km)
  5. Howard, KS 35 mi (57 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: 37.2364, -95.7003.