U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00335857 · Ohio

Frost Dates for New Lexington, OH

NOAA weather station New Lexington 2 NW (USC00335857), Ohio · elevation 877 ft (267 m) · hardiness zone 6a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 16only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 3050% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 1750% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season168 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone6acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at New Lexington, OHSpring: a frost after April 17 in 9 years out of 10, after April 30 in half of the years, after May 16 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 4 in 1 year out of 10, before October 17 in half of the years, before October 29 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 168 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 30First frost ~Oct 17Frost season at New Lexington, OHSpring: a frost after April 17 in 9 years out of 10, after April 30 in half of the years, after May 16 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 4 in 1 year out of 10, before October 17 in half of the years, before October 29 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 168 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 30First frost ~Oct 17
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 16October 4
50% (typical)April 30October 17
90% (likely)April 17October 29
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
168 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 19
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
October 28

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 27 (3 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 20 (3 days later). Frost-free season 174 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 New Lexington: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 16, 20% May 11, 30% May 6, 40% May 3, 50% April 30, 60% April 28, 70% April 24, 80% April 21, 90% April 17. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 May 13, 2022 April 29, 2023 April 26, 2024 April 26, 2025 April 18, 2026 May 4.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%May 1May 16Apr 30Apr 172021: May 132022: April 292023: April 262024: April 262025: April 182026: May 4Fall at New Lexington: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 4, 20% October 7, 30% October 11, 40% October 14, 50% October 17, 60% October 20, 70% October 22, 80% October 25, 90% October 29. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 3, 2022 October 8, 2023 October 23, 2024 October 16, 2025 October 24.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 4Oct 17Oct 292021: November 32022: October 82023: October 232024: October 162025: October 24
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
2021May 13November 3
2022April 29October 8
2023April 26October 23
2024April 26October 16
2025April 18October 24
2026May 4season not over yet

What these dates mean

May 16, with only a 10% chance of a later light frost, is the cautious date for setting out tender crops in New Lexington. By waiting until that day, a gardener can plant sensitive seedlings with a low risk of a spring frost interrupting growth.

The 50% light-frost dates are April 30 in spring and October 17 in fall; at each of these points the chance of a frost is even, so they mark the median of the historic record. The 50% hard-frost dates are April 19 and October 28, indicating when a 28 °F frost is as likely as not. For a conservative schedule the fall cautious date is October 4, when there is only a 10% chance that a light frost has arrived earlier, allowing tender crops to be harvested safely. A hard frost at 28 °F can injure plants that would survive a 32 °F light frost, making those dates particularly important for protecting crops.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after May 16" 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 4" 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 New Lexington, OHNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Zanesville, OH — 23 mi; 2 — Newark, OH — 27 mi; 3 — Cambridge, OH — 39 mi; 4 — near Columbus, OH — 40 mi; 5 — Circleville, OH — 40 mi.OH25 mi · 40 km1. Zanesville, OH — 23 mi12. Newark, OH — 27 mi23. Cambridge, OH — 39 mi34. near Columbus, OH — 40 mi45. Circleville, OH — 40 mi5
  1. Zanesville, OH 23 mi (36 km)
  2. Newark, OH 27 mi (43 km)
  3. Cambridge, OH 39 mi (62 km)
  4. near Columbus, OH 40 mi (64 km)
  5. Circleville, OH 40 mi (65 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: 39.7331, -82.2156.