U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USW00013996 · Kansas

Frost Dates for Topeka, KS

NOAA weather station Topeka Municipal Airport (USW00013996), Kansas · elevation 876 ft (267 m) · hardiness zone 6b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 27only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 1250% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 2350% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season191 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone6bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Topeka, KSSpring: a frost after March 29 in 9 years out of 10, after April 12 in half of the years, after April 27 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 8 in 1 year out of 10, before October 23 in half of the years, before November 4 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 191 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 12First frost ~Oct 23Frost season at Topeka, KSSpring: a frost after March 29 in 9 years out of 10, after April 12 in half of the years, after April 27 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 8 in 1 year out of 10, before October 23 in half of the years, before November 4 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 191 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 12First frost ~Oct 23
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 29 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 27October 8
50% (typical)April 12October 23
90% (likely)March 29November 4
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
191 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 31
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 1

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 12 (same as the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 22 (1 day earlier). Frost-free season 193 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 Topeka: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 27, 20% April 23, 30% April 19, 40% April 15, 50% April 12, 60% April 9, 70% April 6, 80% April 3, 90% March 29. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 22, 2022 April 19, 2023 April 23, 2024 April 5, 2025 April 8, 2026 April 5.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1Apr 27Apr 12Mar 292021: April 222022: April 192023: April 232024: April 52025: April 82026: April 5Fall at Topeka: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 8, 20% October 14, 30% October 19, 40% October 21, 50% October 23, 60% October 26, 70% October 28, 80% November 1, 90% November 4. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 October 30, 2022 October 18, 2023 October 28, 2024 October 16, 2025 October 30.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 8Oct 23Nov 42021: October 302022: October 182023: October 282024: October 162025: October 30
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 22October 30
2022April 19October 18
2023April 23October 28
2024April 5October 16
2025April 8October 30
2026April 5season not over yet

What these dates mean

April 27 is the cautious spring date, with only a 10 % chance of a light frost later; this lets a gardener set out tender crops when the risk is low. The early-season gamble is March 29, which carries a 90 % chance of frost, while the 50 % date for light frost is April 12, meaning a 50 % chance of a frost later than this date. For hard frost the 50 % date is March 31, also indicating a 50 % chance of a hard frost later than that day.

In the fall the cautious date is October 8, offering a 10 % chance of a light frost earlier and allowing the final harvest of tender crops. The 50 % light-frost date is October 23, a 50 % chance of a frost earlier than this date, and the hard-frost 50 % date is November 1, a 50 % chance of a hard frost earlier than that day.

Hard frost at 28 °F can injure plants that would survive a 32 °F light frost.

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 8" 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 Topeka, KSNumbered nearest stations: 1 — near Lawrence, KS — 18 mi; 2 — Ottawa, KS — 37 mi; 3 — Horton, KS — 42 mi; 4 — Kansas City (Airport), MO — 50 mi; 5 — near Manhattan, KS — 54 mi.KS25 mi · 40 km1. near Lawrence, KS — 18 mi12. Ottawa, KS — 37 mi23. Horton, KS — 42 mi34. Kansas City (Airport), MO — 50 mi45. near Manhattan, KS — 54 mi5
  1. near Lawrence, KS 18 mi (29 km)
  2. Ottawa, KS 37 mi (59 km)
  3. Horton, KS 42 mi (67 km)
  4. Kansas City (Airport), MO 50 mi (81 km)
  5. near Manhattan, KS 54 mi (86 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: 39.0725, -95.6261.