U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00129113 · Indiana

Frost Dates for Vincennes, IN

NOAA weather station Vincennes 5 NE (USC00129113), Indiana · elevation 452 ft (138 m) · hardiness zone 6b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 27only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 1150% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 2650% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season197 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone6bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Vincennes, INSpring: a frost after March 30 in 9 years out of 10, after April 11 in half of the years, after April 27 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 11 in 1 year out of 10, before October 26 in half of the years, before November 6 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 197 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 11First frost ~Oct 26Frost season at Vincennes, INSpring: a frost after March 30 in 9 years out of 10, after April 11 in half of the years, after April 27 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 11 in 1 year out of 10, before October 26 in half of the years, before November 6 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 197 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 11First frost ~Oct 26
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 11
50% (typical)April 11October 26
90% (likely)March 30November 6
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
197 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 1
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 4

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 10 (1 day earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 28 (2 days later). Frost-free season 198 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 Vincennes: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 27, 20% April 21, 30% April 17, 40% April 14, 50% April 11, 60% April 8, 70% April 5, 80% April 3, 90% March 30. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 22, 2022 April 20, 2023 April 25, 2024 April 6, 2025 April 9, 2026 March 29.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1Apr 27Apr 11Mar 302021: April 222022: April 202023: April 252024: April 62025: April 92026: March 29Fall at Vincennes: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 11, 20% October 17, 30% October 21, 40% October 23, 50% October 26, 60% October 28, 70% October 31, 80% November 2, 90% November 6. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 3, 2022 October 18, 2023 October 31, 2024 October 17, 2025 November 10.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 11Oct 26Nov 62021: November 32022: October 182023: October 312024: October 172025: 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 22November 3
2022April 20October 18
2023April 25October 31
2024April 6October 17
2025April 9November 10
2026March 29season not over yet

What these dates mean

April 27 is the cautious spring date, with only a 10 % chance of a light frost occurring later; this lets a gardener schedule the planting of tender crops. The 50 % date is April 11, indicating an even chance of a light frost. October 11 is the cautious fall date, with a 10 % chance that a light frost has arrived earlier, and it marks the latest point to finish harvesting tender crops. The 50 % date is October 26, indicating an even chance of a light frost. The median hard-frost dates are April 1 in spring and November 4 in fall. A hard frost at 28 °F can damage plants that survive a light frost at 32 °F, so it is a more critical threshold for tender crops.

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 11" 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 Vincennes, INNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Princeton, IN — 27 mi; 2 — near Jasonville, IN — 32 mi; 3 — Olney, IL — 32 mi; 4 — Shoals, IN — 40 mi; 5 — near French Lick, IN — 47 mi.IN25 mi · 40 km1. Princeton, IN — 27 mi12. near Jasonville, IN — 32 mi23. Olney, IL — 32 mi34. Shoals, IN — 40 mi45. near French Lick, IN — 47 mi5
  1. Princeton, IN 27 mi (43 km)
  2. near Jasonville, IN 32 mi (52 km)
  3. Olney, IL 32 mi (52 km)
  4. Shoals, IN 40 mi (64 km)
  5. near French Lick, IN 47 mi (75 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: 38.7386, -87.4878.