U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USW00013963 · Arkansas

Frost Dates for Little Rock (Adams Field), AR

NOAA weather station Little Rock Airport Adams Field (USW00013963), Arkansas · elevation 258 ft (79 m) · hardiness zone 8a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 6only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMarch 2150% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 1050% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season234 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone8acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Little Rock (Adams Field), ARSpring: a frost after March 2 in 9 years out of 10, after March 21 in half of the years, after April 6 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 29 in 1 year out of 10, before November 10 in half of the years, before November 25 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 234 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Mar 21First frost ~Nov 10Frost season at Little Rock (Adams Field), ARSpring: a frost after March 2 in 9 years out of 10, after March 21 in half of the years, after April 6 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 29 in 1 year out of 10, before November 10 in half of the years, before November 25 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 234 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Mar 21First frost ~Nov 10
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 6October 29
50% (typical)March 21November 10
90% (likely)March 2November 25
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
234 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 8
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 21

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost March 17 (4 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 9 (1 day earlier). Frost-free season 236 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 Little Rock (Adams Field): chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 6, 20% April 1, 30% March 28, 40% March 25, 50% March 21, 60% March 16, 70% March 13, 80% March 8, 90% March 2. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 March 3, 2022 March 13, 2023 March 20, 2024 March 19, 2025 March 6, 2026 March 17.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Mar 1Apr 1Apr 6Mar 21Mar 22021: March 32022: March 132023: March 202024: March 192025: March 62026: March 17Fall at Little Rock (Adams Field): chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 29, 20% November 1, 30% November 4, 40% November 7, 50% November 10, 60% November 13, 70% November 17, 80% November 20, 90% November 25. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 5, 2022 November 12, 2023 November 1, 2024 November 29, 2025 November 10.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Oct 29Nov 10Nov 252021: November 52022: November 122023: November 12024: November 292025: November 10
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
2021March 3November 5
2022March 13November 12
2023March 20November 1
2024March 19November 29
2025March 6November 10
2026March 17season not over yet

What these dates mean

October 29 marks the cautious fall date for finishing the harvest of tender crops in Little Rock (Adams Field); there is only a 10% chance that a light frost has arrived earlier. Gardeners who wait until that date reduce the risk of early frost damage to late-season plants.

In spring the cautious date for setting out tender crops is April 6, when the chance of a light frost later in the season is just 10%; planting before March 2 carries a 90% gamble. The 50% date is March 21, and there is a 50% chance of a light frost later than this date. The fall 50% date is November 10, and there is a 50% chance of a light frost earlier than this date.

A hard frost at 28 °F, whose median dates are March 8 in spring and November 21 in fall, can injure plant tissue more severely than a light frost at 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 6" 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 29" 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 Little Rock (Adams Field), ARNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Little Rock, AR — 8 mi; 2 — Keo, AR — 16 mi; 3 — Conway, AR — 30 mi; 4 — Sheridan, AR — 31 mi; 5 — Alum Fork, AR — 35 mi.AR25 mi · 40 km1. Little Rock, AR — 8 mi12. Keo, AR — 16 mi23. Conway, AR — 30 mi34. Sheridan, AR — 31 mi45. Alum Fork, AR — 35 mi5
  1. Little Rock, AR 8 mi (12 km)
  2. Keo, AR 16 mi (26 km)
  3. Conway, AR 30 mi (48 km)
  4. Sheridan, AR 31 mi (49 km)
  5. Alum Fork, AR 35 mi (56 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 8a: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 34.7272, -92.2389.