U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00404858 · Tennessee

Frost Dates for Kingsport, TN

NOAA weather station Kingsport (USC00404858), Tennessee · elevation 1284 ft (391 m) · hardiness zone 7b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 25only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 950% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 2950% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season203 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Kingsport, TNSpring: a frost after March 25 in 9 years out of 10, after April 9 in half of the years, after April 25 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 15 in 1 year out of 10, before October 29 in half of the years, before November 10 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 203 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 9First frost ~Oct 29Frost season at Kingsport, TNSpring: a frost after March 25 in 9 years out of 10, after April 9 in half of the years, after April 25 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 15 in 1 year out of 10, before October 29 in half of the years, before November 10 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 203 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 9First frost ~Oct 29
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 25October 15
50% (typical)April 9October 29
90% (likely)March 25November 10
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
203 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 28
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 6

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 6 (3 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 1 (3 days later). 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 Kingsport: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 25, 20% April 20, 30% April 16, 40% April 13, 50% April 9, 60% April 6, 70% April 2, 80% March 30, 90% March 25. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 23, 2022 April 10, 2023 March 30, 2024 April 7, 2025 April 13, 2026 March 29.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1Apr 25Apr 9Mar 252021: April 232022: April 102023: March 302024: April 72025: April 132026: March 29Fall at Kingsport: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 15, 20% October 20, 30% October 24, 40% October 26, 50% October 29, 60% November 1, 70% November 2, 80% November 5, 90% November 10. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 5, 2022 October 20, 2023 November 1, 2024 November 21, 2025 November 1.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 15Oct 29Nov 102021: November 52022: October 202023: November 12024: November 212025: November 1
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 23November 5
2022April 10October 20
2023March 30November 1
2024April 7November 21
2025April 13November 1
2026March 29season not over yet

What these dates mean

Setting out tender crops on the early spring date of March 25 in Kingsport carries a 90 % chance of a light frost later, making it a gamble for growers. The cautious alternative is the April 25 date, which has only a 10 % chance of a light frost later and is therefore the safer reference for planting tender varieties.

The 50% date is April 9, meaning there is a 50 % chance of a light frost later than this date in spring, while the 50% fall date is October 29, with a 50 % chance of a light frost earlier than this date. For a cautious fall schedule, October 15 is used because it carries only a 10 % chance of a light frost earlier. The 50% hard-frost dates are March 28 and November 6; a hard frost at 28 °F can damage plants that survive a light frost at 32 °F, so the 28 °F threshold is more critical.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after April 25" 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 15" 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 Kingsport, TNNumbered nearest stations: 1 — near Bristol, TN — 8 mi; 2 — Elizabethton, TN — 19 mi; 3 — Rogersville, TN — 26 mi; 4 — Erwin, TN — 27 mi; 5 — Big Stone Gap, VA — 28 mi.TNVANCKYWV25 mi · 40 km1. near Bristol, TN — 8 mi12. Elizabethton, TN — 19 mi23. Rogersville, TN — 26 mi34. Erwin, TN — 27 mi45. Big Stone Gap, VA — 28 mi5
  1. near Bristol, TN 8 mi (12 km)
  2. Elizabethton, TN 19 mi (31 km)
  3. Rogersville, TN 26 mi (42 km)
  4. Erwin, TN 27 mi (43 km)
  5. Big Stone Gap, VA 28 mi (45 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: 36.5194, -82.5275.