U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00124837 · Indiana

Frost Dates for Laporte, IN

NOAA weather station Laporte (USC00124837), Indiana · elevation 809 ft (247 m) · hardiness zone 6a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 3only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 1950% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 2750% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season191 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone6acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Laporte, INSpring: a frost after April 5 in 9 years out of 10, after April 19 in half of the years, after May 3 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 14 in 1 year out of 10, before October 27 in half of the years, before November 9 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 191 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 19First frost ~Oct 27Frost season at Laporte, INSpring: a frost after April 5 in 9 years out of 10, after April 19 in half of the years, after May 3 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 14 in 1 year out of 10, before October 27 in half of the years, before November 9 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 191 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 19First frost ~Oct 27
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 3October 14
50% (typical)April 19October 27
90% (likely)April 5November 9
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
191 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 7
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 7

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 20 (1 day later than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 27. Frost-free season 188 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 Laporte: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 3, 20% April 29, 30% April 25, 40% April 22, 50% April 19, 60% April 17, 70% April 13, 80% April 10, 90% April 5. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 22, 2022 April 27, 2023 April 24, 2024 April 25, 2025 April 12, 2026 May 2.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1May 3Apr 19Apr 52021: April 222022: April 272023: April 242024: April 252025: April 122026: May 2Fall at Laporte: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 14, 20% October 19, 30% October 22, 40% October 24, 50% October 27, 60% October 30, 70% November 1, 80% November 4, 90% November 9. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 3, 2022 October 20, 2023 October 30, 2024 November 20, 2025 October 25.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 14Oct 27Nov 92021: November 32022: October 202023: October 302024: November 202025: October 25
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 3
2022April 27October 20
2023April 24October 30
2024April 25November 20
2025April 12October 25
2026May 2season not over yet

What these dates mean

May 3 is the cautious spring date in Laporte, carrying only a 10% chance of a light frost later and thus allowing a gardener to set out tender crops with relative confidence. By contrast, April 5 carries a 90% chance and would be a gamble.

April 19 and October 27 are the 50% dates; each carries an even chance of a light frost occurring, serving as a median reference for planning. October 14 is the cautious fall date, with a 10% chance that a light frost has already arrived, guiding a gardener to finish harvesting tender crops before risk rises. November 9, with a 90% chance, would be a gamble for extending the season.

Hard frost at 28°F matters more than a light frost at 32°F because it can damage or kill plants that survive the milder temperature.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after May 3" 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 14" 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 Laporte, INNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Wanatah, IN — 16 mi; 2 — Indiana Dunes NL, IN — 19 mi; 3 — near South Bend, IN — 22 mi; 4 — Lakeville, IN — 25 mi; 5 — Plymouth, IN — 28 mi.INMIIL25 mi · 40 km1. Wanatah, IN — 16 mi12. Indiana Dunes NL, IN — 19 mi23. near South Bend, IN — 22 mi34. Lakeville, IN — 25 mi45. Plymouth, IN — 28 mi5
  1. Wanatah, IN 16 mi (25 km)
  2. Indiana Dunes NL, IN 19 mi (30 km)
  3. near South Bend, IN 22 mi (36 km)
  4. Lakeville, IN 25 mi (39 km)
  5. Plymouth, IN 28 mi (45 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 6a: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 41.6117, -86.7297.