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Frost Chart for United States

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The Old Farmer's Almanac
2013 Weather Watcher's Calendar

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Source: Courtesy of National Climatic Center

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Find average frost dates for your last spring frost and first fall frost.

(If you're a farmer or gardener, get planting dates based on first frost dates.)

Dates given are normal averages for a light freeze or frost (32°F); local weather and topography may cause considerable variations. The possibility of frost occurring after the spring dates and before the fall dates is 50 percent. The classification of freezing temperatures is usually based on their effect on plants, with the following commonly accepted categories:

Light freeze:

29°F to 32°F—tender plants killed, with little destructive effect on other vegetation.

Moderate freeze:

25°F to 28°F—widely destructive effect on most vegetation, with heavy damage to fruit blossoms and tender and semi-hardy plants.

Severe freeze:

24°F and colder—damage to most plants.

Frost Dates

Below are U.S. cities. Or, see Canadian cities.

City State

Growing
Season
(Days)

 Last Spring
Frost Dates		 First Fall
Frost Dates
Mobile AL 273 Feb. 28 Nov. 29
Juneau AK 148 May 8 Oct. 4
Flagstaff AZ 106 June 9 Sept. 22
Phoenix AZ * * *
Prescott AZ 163 May 7 Oct. 18
Tucson AZ 324 Jan. 19 Dec. 18
Pine Bluff AR 240 Mar. 16 Nov. 12
Eureka CA 323 Jan. 27 Dec. 16
Sacramento CA 296 Feb. 10 Dec. 4
San Francisco CA * * *
Denver CO 157 Apr. 30 Oct. 4
Hartford CT 166 Apr. 26 Oct. 9
Wilmington DE 202 Apr. 10 Oct. 30
Miami FL * * *
Tampa FL 338 Jan. 28 Jan. 3
Athens GA 227 Mar. 24 Nov. 7
Savannah GA 268 Mar. 1 Nov. 25
Boise ID 147 May 10 Oct. 6
Chicago IL 187 Apr. 20 Oct. 24
Springfield IL 182 Apr. 13 Oct. 13
Indianapolis IN 181 Apr. 17 Oct. 16
South Bend IN 175 Apr. 26 Oct. 19
Atlantic IA 148 May 2 Sept. 28
Cedar Rapids IA 163 Apr. 25 Oct. 6
Topeka KS 174 Apr. 19 Oct. 11
Lexington KY 192 Apr. 15 Oct. 25
Monroe LA 256 Mar. 3 Nov. 15
New Orleans LA 300 Feb. 12 Dec. 11
Portland ME 156 May 2 Oct. 6
Baltimore MD 200 Apr. 11 Oct. 29
Worcester MA 170 Apr. 26 Oct. 14
Lansing MI 145 May 10 Oct. 3
Marquette MI 154 May 11 Oct. 13
Duluth MN 124 May 21 Sept. 23
Willmar MN 154 Apr. 30 Oct. 1
Columbus MS 248 Mar. 13 Nov. 16
Vicksburg MS 240 Mar. 20 Nov. 16
Jefferson City MO 188 Apr. 13 Oct. 18
Fort Peck MT 141 May 8 Sept. 26
Helena MT 121 May 19 Sept. 18
Blair NE 167 Apr. 25 Oct. 10
North Platte NE 137 May 9 Sept. 24
Las Vegas NV 283 Feb. 16 Nov. 27
Concord NH 124 May 20 Sept. 21
Newark NJ 217 Apr. 3 Nov. 7
Carlsbad NM 215 Mar. 31 Nov. 2
Los Alamos NM 149 May 11 Oct. 8
Albany NY 153 May 2 Oct. 3
Syracuse NY 168 Apr. 28 Oct. 13
Fayetteville NC 222 Mar. 28 Nov. 5
Bismarck ND 129 May 14 Sept. 21
Akron OH 192 Apr. 18 Oct. 28
Cincinnati OH 192 Apr. 13 Oct. 23
Lawton OK 223 Mar. 29 Nov. 7
Tulsa OK 225 Mar. 27 Nov. 7
Pendleton OR 187 Apr. 13 Oct. 18
Portland OR 236 Mar. 23 Nov. 15
Franklin PA 164 May 6 Oct. 17
Williamsport PA 168 Apr. 30 Oct. 15
Kingston RI 147 May 8 Oct. 3
Charleston SC 260 Mar. 9 Nov. 25
Columbia SC 214 Apr. 1 Nov. 1
Rapid City SD 140 May 9 Sept. 27
Memphis TN 235 Mar. 22 Nov. 13
Nashville TN 204 Apr. 6 Oct. 28
Amarillo TX 185 Apr. 18 Oct. 20
Denton TX 243 Mar. 18 Nov. 16
San Antonio TX 270 Feb. 28 Nov. 25
Cedar City UT 133 May 21 Oct. 1
Spanish Fork UT 167 May 1 Oct. 16
Burlington VT 147 May 8 Oct. 3
Norfolk VA 247 Mar. 20 Nov. 23
Richmond VA 206 Apr. 6 Oct. 30
Seattle WA 251 Mar. 10 Nov. 17
Spokane WA 153 May 2 Oct. 3
Parkersburg WV 183 Apr. 21 Oct. 22
Green Bay WI 150 May 6 Oct. 4
Janesville WI 164 Apr. 28 Oct. 10
Casper WY 120 May 22 Sept. 19
* Frosts do not occur every year.

For more locations click here.

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Comments

Thank you for the

By divya

Thank you for the information. Now, we can grow our vegetables according to the table given above. I didn't know about much things. I am happy that this blog is providing many informative knowledge. Hope in the coming days also you will provide this kinds of knowledge. :D

Thanks. Now I known around

By farmerboy96

Thanks. Now I known around when I should start my vegetable garden. P.S. Does anybody know how to keep birds from eating the corn in your garden?

This answer depends on the

By Richard Rauenbusch

This answer depends on the size of your garden. In my garden, I tie 8 inch strips of thick tinfoil to poles and distribute them through out my garden. The wind causes a slight sound and the sun glinting off the tinfoil simulates movement, and this seems to keep the birds away from my plants. This would not be practical for large gardens.

When is the last frost date

By christiansoldier1857

When is the last frost date for Spring 2011 in Zachary Louisiana 70791

Hi--if you see the link at

By Catherine Boeckmann

Hi--if you see the link at the bottom, you can find your frost date by state. Then pick closest weather station. If you live near Baton Rouge, you can see that that the 50% probability of frost date (32 degrees) is February 26. Of course, this is based on 30 years of history--every year is different!

I'd like to know when the

By mom19432002us

I'd like to know when the first frost is in Glen Burnie, Md cause we still have stink bugs around. When will it come so the frost will kill them outside? Hate those Stink Bugs.

Not sure about stinkbugs, but

By Catherine Boeckmann

Not sure about stinkbugs, but if you're looking for more frost dates, just click on the link below the chart, then find your state, then find your nearest weather station. For example, if you live near Beltsville, MD, then it says that your area hits 32 degrees (frost) in the fall around Oct 22 (50% probability). Of course, that's based on a 30-year historical average. Every year is different!

Sorry to tell you, but the

By Spinner

Sorry to tell you, but the stinkbugs can survive freezing, snow and ice. We have the nasty things in Virginia and have been fighting them all winter - IN the house. Finally figured out that they must be over wintering in our wood pile because every time DH brings in a load of firewood, there are more bugs in the house. Do a Google search on them. You will find photos of the bugs and their eggs. We saw eggs in the garden last year but didn't know what they were. Now we do and will be carefully inspecting leaves for signs and destroying them when found.

Sorry I couldn't bring you better news...

Just a helpful hint about

By Hoolie

Just a helpful hint about using wood for heat. Don't know if you are burning it in the fireplace or woodstove, but after heating with wood for over 40 years, I've learned (the hard way) that all sorts of nasty "creepy-crawlies" can hitch a ride under the bark (and inside the wood itself) and then infest your house. So, we keep our wood outside on a steel wood rack, right outside the door to the Family Room, and when it's time to load the stove, we open the door to the stove, and take the wood one (or two, if small) at a time and put them directly into the fire, don't set them down on the hearth or the floor, even for just a few minutes, because those critters can really scoot out and get into the tiniest of cracks and crevices (or carpet). It doesn't matter how cold it is outside, they seem to over-winter through it all.

Hi Spinner, You can kill

By Dee Arn

Hi Spinner,
You can kill most bugs with boric acid powder. It won't hurt pets and it dissicates the bugs. You can buy it at most drug stores.
Spread it at the place where you usually see the bugs and they will die. When other bugs eat the carcass, they will die too.
If the powder does not get wet, it will last up to a year. Boric Acid is in a lot of bug powders sold commercially. You can find those very cheap at any Dollar Store. God Bless, Dee

Still too cold to plant

By Shirley Greene

Still too cold to plant tomatoes ?? The man at the nursery said it was ok, but I don't want to take a chance.

Hi Shirley, tomato planting

By Almanac Staff

Hi Shirley, tomato planting time depends on your hardiness zone, you need to be sure all danger of frost has passed before setting out tomato plants. You can see a list of frost dates here: http://www.almanac.com/content/frost-chart-united-states and advice for planting and harvesting tomatoes here: http://www.almanac.com/plant/tomatoes Good luck!

what is the LATEST RECORDED

By davidpeterson

what is the LATEST RECORDED SNOW IN TULSA, OKLA, PLEASE? MAY, PERHAPS? THX!

When planting tomatoe &

By Stephen Bell

When planting tomatoe & pepper plants & to follow planting by the moon. Can I still go by the above ground bearing, moon waxing method still?

Sure you can if you live in

By dcf

Sure you can if you live in zone 11. even if grown in green house, go with your plan.

Hi, Stephen, facebook fan! Of

By Almanac Staff

Hi, Stephen, facebook fan! Of course, we chatted on facebook but for everyone's benefit here, the answer is YES!

Wow, the first frost has

By kimberly

Wow, the first frost has appeared early this year! Hebron, Maryland... October 19, 2009. I should have went with my gut instinct and moved my canister gardens and delicate plants into the garage! You can bet I did last night, the frost was even thicker this morning when I woke up. Let's see what tomorrow morning brings.

Kimberly, So glad you keep an

By Almanac Staff

Kimberly, So glad you keep an eye on the frost.  Our frost data is based on NOAA's historical averages and 50% probability so you still want to use your instincts, as you call 'em!

It's nice to know the staff

By tomkathy1

It's nice to know the staff at Old Farmers Almanac are honest. My grandfather used the Almanac for everything from planting to fishing. I can remember him saying, "we live good tomorrow by not forgetting yesterday.". He would hold up his Almanac up and tell all us kids that it was his memory book, but sometimes his memory was a bit faded. Thanks for being honest and making me think of my grandpa.

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