U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00331592 · Ohio

Frost Dates for Circleville, OH

NOAA weather station Circleville (USC00331592), Ohio · elevation 675 ft (206 m) · hardiness zone 6b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 4only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 1750% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 2850% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season192 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone6bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Circleville, OHSpring: a frost after April 2 in 9 years out of 10, after April 17 in half of the years, after May 4 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 9 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 192 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 17First frost ~Oct 28Frost season at Circleville, OHSpring: a frost after April 2 in 9 years out of 10, after April 17 in half of the years, after May 4 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 9 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 192 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 17First 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.Today

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)May 4October 14
50% (typical)April 17October 28
90% (likely)April 2November 9
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
192 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 4
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 7

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 17 (same as the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 30 (2 days later). 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 Circleville: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 4, 20% April 29, 30% April 25, 40% April 21, 50% April 17, 60% April 14, 70% April 11, 80% April 6, 90% April 2. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 23, 2022 April 22, 2023 April 26, 2024 April 22, 2025 April 18, 2026 April 8.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1May 4Apr 17Apr 22021: April 232022: April 222023: April 262024: April 222025: April 182026: April 8Fall at Circleville: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 14, 20% October 19, 30% October 22, 40% October 25, 50% October 28, 60% October 31, 70% November 1, 80% November 5, 90% November 9. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 3, 2022 October 8, 2023 October 23, 2024 October 17, 2025 October 25.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 14Oct 28Nov 92021: November 32022: October 82023: October 232024: October 172025: October 25
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 23November 3
2022April 22October 8
2023April 26October 23
2024April 22October 17
2025April 18October 25
2026April 8season not over yet

What these dates mean

Setting out tender crops on April 2 in Circleville carries a 90% chance of a light frost later, so it is a gamble. The 50% date is April 17; at that point a light frost is equally likely to occur later as not. The 50% date for fall is October 28, marking an even chance of a frost earlier. The hard-frost median dates are April 4 in spring and November 7 in fall; a 28 °F frost can damage plants that survive a 32 °F light frost, making it more critical.

A cautious spring plan waits until May 4, when only a 10% chance of a later light frost remains. In fall, finishing tender crops by October 14 keeps the risk of an earlier frost to 10%.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after May 4" 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 Circleville, OHNumbered nearest stations: 1 — near Columbus, OH — 27 mi; 2 — Waverly, OH — 34 mi; 3 — Westerville, OH — 36 mi; 4 — New Lexington, OH — 40 mi; 5 — Hillsboro, OH — 44 mi.WV25 mi · 40 km1. near Columbus, OH — 27 mi12. Waverly, OH — 34 mi23. Westerville, OH — 36 mi34. New Lexington, OH — 40 mi45. Hillsboro, OH — 44 mi5
  1. near Columbus, OH 27 mi (43 km)
  2. Waverly, OH 34 mi (56 km)
  3. Westerville, OH 36 mi (57 km)
  4. New Lexington, OH 40 mi (65 km)
  5. Hillsboro, OH 44 mi (70 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: 39.6103, -82.9556.