U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00145744 · Kansas

Frost Dates for Newton, KS

NOAA weather station Newton (USC00145744), Kansas · elevation 1441 ft (439 m) · hardiness zone 6b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 27only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 1450% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 2550% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season193 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone6bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Newton, KSSpring: a frost after March 31 in 9 years out of 10, after April 14 in half of the years, after April 27 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 12 in 1 year out of 10, before October 25 in half of the years, before November 7 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 193 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 14First frost ~Oct 25Frost season at Newton, KSSpring: a frost after March 31 in 9 years out of 10, after April 14 in half of the years, after April 27 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 12 in 1 year out of 10, before October 25 in half of the years, before November 7 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 193 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 14First frost ~Oct 25
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 27October 12
50% (typical)April 14October 25
90% (likely)March 31November 7
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
193 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 4
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 3

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 14 (same as the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 25. Frost-free season 194 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 Newton: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 27, 20% April 23, 30% April 20, 40% April 17, 50% April 14, 60% April 11, 70% April 8, 80% April 4, 90% March 31. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 22, 2022 April 15, 2023 April 24.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1Apr 27Apr 14Mar 312021: April 222022: April 152023: April 24Fall at Newton: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 12, 20% October 17, 30% October 20, 40% October 23, 50% October 25, 60% October 28, 70% October 31, 80% November 2, 90% November 7. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 13, 2022 October 18, 2023 October 28.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 12Oct 25Nov 72021: November 132022: October 182023: October 28
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 13
2022April 15October 18
2023April 24October 28
2024incomplete recordincomplete record
2025incomplete recordno data
2026no dataseason not over yet

What these dates mean

October 12 marks the cautious fall date for finishing the harvest in Newton, Kansas; there is only a 10% chance that a light frost has already arrived by that day. The median light-frost day, October 25, is the point where the probability of frost is even.

In spring, the cautious date for setting out tender crops is April 27, when a light frost later in the season occurs only 10% of the time, while April 14 is the 50% date indicating even odds of frost. A hard frost, defined by 28 °F, is more damaging than a light frost because it can kill plant tissue that survives 32 °F; the 50% hard-frost days are April 4 in spring and November 3 in fall. The interval between the two 32 °F 50% dates spans 193 days, based on 30 years of record.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after April 27" 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 12" 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 Newton, KSNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Wichita, KS — 26 mi; 2 — near Marion, KS — 29 mi; 3 — El Dorado, KS — 31 mi; 4 — Hutchinson, KS — 37 mi; 5 — Cassoday, KS — 41 mi.25 mi · 40 km1. Wichita, KS — 26 mi12. near Marion, KS — 29 mi23. El Dorado, KS — 31 mi34. Hutchinson, KS — 37 mi45. Cassoday, KS — 41 mi5
  1. Wichita, KS 26 mi (42 km)
  2. near Marion, KS 29 mi (46 km)
  3. El Dorado, KS 31 mi (50 km)
  4. Hutchinson, KS 37 mi (60 km)
  5. Cassoday, KS 41 mi (66 km)

Sources

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

Station coordinates: 38.0231, -97.3553.