U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00408562 · Tennessee

Frost Dates for Springfield, TN

NOAA weather station Springfield Experiment Station (USC00408562), Tennessee · elevation 745 ft (227 m) · hardiness zone 7a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 28only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 950% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 2850% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season201 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Springfield, TNSpring: a frost after March 22 in 9 years out of 10, after April 9 in half of the years, after April 28 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 14 in 1 year out of 10, before October 28 in half of the years, before November 10 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 201 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 9First frost ~Oct 28Frost season at Springfield, TNSpring: a frost after March 22 in 9 years out of 10, after April 9 in half of the years, after April 28 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 14 in 1 year out of 10, before October 28 in half of the years, before November 10 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 201 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 9First frost ~Oct 28
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 25 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 28October 14
50% (typical)April 9October 28
90% (likely)March 22November 10
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
201 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 28
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 6

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 8 (1 day earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 29 (1 day later). Frost-free season 204 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 Springfield: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 28, 20% April 22, 30% April 16, 40% April 13, 50% April 9, 60% April 5, 70% April 1, 80% March 29, 90% March 22. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 21, 2022 April 2, 2023 April 24, 2024 April 22, 2025 April 9, 2026 March 18.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1Apr 28Apr 9Mar 222021: April 212022: April 22023: April 242024: April 222025: April 92026: March 18Fall at Springfield: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 14, 20% October 19, 30% October 23, 40% October 25, 50% October 28, 60% October 30, 70% November 1, 80% November 4, 90% November 10. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 4, 2022 October 9, 2023 October 31, 2024 November 29, 2025 November 3.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Dec 1Oct 14Oct 28Nov 102021: November 42022: October 92023: October 312024: November 292025: November 3
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 21November 4
2022April 2October 9
2023April 24October 31
2024April 22November 29
2025April 9November 3
2026March 18season not over yet

What these dates mean

The 201 days between the 50% dates in Springfield form the period between the median light-frost dates, giving gardeners a broad window for planting, growth, and harvest. The 50% date is April 9 in spring and October 28 in fall; on each of these dates there is an even chance that a light frost will occur later (spring) or earlier (fall), so they mark the statistical midpoint rather than a frost event.

For a cautious plan, tender crops should be set out after the April 28 date, which carries only a 10 % chance of a later frost, while they should be finished by October 14, which also carries a 10 % chance of an earlier frost. The earlier spring date, March 22, has a 90 % chance of a later frost and is a gamble, as is the later fall date, November 10, with a 90 % chance of an earlier frost. The hard-frost median dates are March 28 and November 6.

A hard frost at 28 °F can damage plants that survive a light frost at 32 °F, so it represents a greater risk.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after April 28" 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 Springfield, TNNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Portland, TN — 19 mi; 2 — near Green Hill, TN — 22 mi; 3 — Nashville, TN — 26 mi; 4 — Clarksville, TN — 28 mi; 5 — Kingston Springs, TN — 30 mi.TNKY25 mi · 40 km1. Portland, TN — 19 mi12. near Green Hill, TN — 22 mi23. Nashville, TN — 26 mi34. Clarksville, TN — 28 mi45. Kingston Springs, TN — 30 mi5
  1. Portland, TN 19 mi (31 km)
  2. near Green Hill, TN 22 mi (35 km)
  3. Nashville, TN 26 mi (41 km)
  4. Clarksville, TN 28 mi (45 km)
  5. Kingston Springs, TN 30 mi (48 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 7a: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 36.4711, -86.8414.