U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00231189 · Missouri

Frost Dates for California, MO

NOAA weather station California (USC00231189), Missouri · elevation 879 ft (268 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 2550% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season195 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone6bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at California, MOSpring: a frost after March 28 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 12 in 1 year out of 10, before October 25 in half of the years, before November 6 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 195 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 11First frost ~Oct 25Frost season at California, MOSpring: a frost after March 28 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 12 in 1 year out of 10, before October 25 in half of the years, before November 6 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 195 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 11First 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 29 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 27October 12
50% (typical)April 11October 25
90% (likely)March 28November 6
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
195 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 1
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 2

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 11 (same as the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 24 (1 day earlier). Frost-free season 196 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 California: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 27, 20% April 22, 30% April 18, 40% April 14, 50% April 11, 60% April 8, 70% April 5, 80% April 1, 90% March 28. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 22, 2024 March 28.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1Apr 27Apr 11Mar 282021: April 222024: March 28Fall at California: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 12, 20% October 17, 30% October 21, 40% October 23, 50% October 25, 60% October 28, 70% October 30, 80% November 1, 90% November 6. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 3.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 12Oct 25Nov 62021: 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 22November 3
2022incomplete recordincomplete record
2023incomplete recordincomplete record
2024March 28incomplete record
2025incomplete recordincomplete record
2026incomplete recordseason not over yet

What these dates mean

October 12 marks the cautious fall date for finishing the harvest, when there is only a 10 % chance that a light frost has already arrived.

The 50% dates are April 11 in spring and October 25 in fall; each represents an even odds of a light frost occurring. For tender crops a cautious plan uses the April 27 date in spring, which carries a 10 % chance of a frost later, and the October 12 date in fall, which carries a 10 % chance of a frost earlier.

Hard frost at 28 °F—median April 1 in spring and November 2 in fall—poses a greater risk because plants that can survive a 32 °F light frost may still be damaged. The interval between the two 32°F 50% dates—April 11 and October 25—covers 195 days in the 29-year 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 California, MONumbered nearest stations: 1 — Eldon, MO — 19 mi; 2 — Jefferson City, MO — 20 mi; 3 — Columbia, MO — 22 mi; 4 — New Franklin, MO — 29 mi; 5 — Sedalia, MO — 36 mi.25 mi · 40 km1. Eldon, MO — 19 mi12. Jefferson City, MO — 20 mi23. Columbia, MO — 22 mi34. New Franklin, MO — 29 mi45. Sedalia, MO — 36 mi5
  1. Eldon, MO 19 mi (31 km)
  2. Jefferson City, MO 20 mi (33 km)
  3. Columbia, MO 22 mi (36 km)
  4. New Franklin, MO 29 mi (47 km)
  5. Sedalia, MO 36 mi (58 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: 38.6278, -92.5567.