U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00155694 · Kentucky

Frost Dates for Murray, KY

NOAA weather station Murray (USC00155694), Kentucky · elevation 527 ft (161 m) · hardiness zone 7b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 20only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 550% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 150% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season209 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Murray, KYSpring: a frost after March 19 in 9 years out of 10, after April 5 in half of the years, after April 20 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 20 in 1 year out of 10, before November 1 in half of the years, before November 14 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 209 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 5First frost ~Nov 1Frost season at Murray, KYSpring: a frost after March 19 in 9 years out of 10, after April 5 in half of the years, after April 20 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 20 in 1 year out of 10, before November 1 in half of the years, before November 14 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 209 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 5First frost ~Nov 1
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 28 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 20October 20
50% (typical)April 5November 1
90% (likely)March 19November 14
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
209 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 24
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 11

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 3 (2 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 1. Frost-free season 210 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 Murray: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 20, 20% April 15, 30% April 11, 40% April 8, 50% April 5, 60% April 2, 70% March 30, 80% March 26, 90% March 19. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 3, 2022 March 15, 2023 March 21, 2024 March 21, 2025 March 22, 2026 March 18.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1Apr 20Apr 5Mar 192021: April 32022: March 152023: March 212024: March 212025: March 222026: March 18Fall at Murray: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 20, 20% October 24, 30% October 27, 40% October 29, 50% November 1, 60% November 3, 70% November 5, 80% November 10, 90% November 14. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 4, 2022 October 18, 2023 October 31, 2024 November 23, 2025 November 10.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Oct 20Nov 1Nov 142021: November 42022: October 182023: October 312024: November 232025: 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
2021April 3November 4
2022March 15October 18
2023March 21October 31
2024March 21November 23
2025March 22November 10
2026March 18season not over yet

What these dates mean

April 20 is the cautious spring date in Murray, giving gardeners only a 10 % chance of a light frost later and marking the point when tender crops can be set out with minimal frost risk.

The 50% spring date is April 5, meaning there is a 50 % chance of a light frost later than this date, and the 50% fall date is November 1, meaning there is a 50 % chance of a light frost earlier than this date. For a cautious fall plan, October 20 provides a 10 % chance of a light frost earlier, allowing gardeners to finish harvesting tender crops. The median hard-frost dates are March 24 in spring and November 11 in fall, each representing a 50 % chance of a 28 °F event.

A hard frost at 28 °F can damage or kill plants that survive 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 20" 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 20" 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 Murray, KYNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Dover, TN — 26 mi; 2 — Martin, TN — 36 mi; 3 — Smithland Lock and Dam, IL — 39 mi; 4 — near Metropolis, IL — 40 mi; 5 — Paducah, KY — 41 mi.KYTNMOIL25 mi · 40 km1. Dover, TN — 26 mi12. Martin, TN — 36 mi23. Smithland Lock and Dam, IL — 39 mi34. near Metropolis, IL — 40 mi45. Paducah, KY — 41 mi5
  1. Dover, TN 26 mi (42 km)
  2. Martin, TN 36 mi (58 km)
  3. Smithland Lock and Dam, IL 39 mi (62 km)
  4. near Metropolis, IL 40 mi (65 km)
  5. Paducah, KY 41 mi (65 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: 36.6122, -88.3083.