U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00153762 · Kentucky

Frost Dates for Henderson, KY

NOAA weather station Henderson 8 SSW (USC00153762), Kentucky · elevation 449 ft (137 m) · hardiness zone 7a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 19only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 450% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 2950% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season207 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Henderson, KYSpring: a frost after March 22 in 9 years out of 10, after April 4 in half of the years, after April 19 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 17 in 1 year out of 10, before October 29 in half of the years, before November 10 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 207 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 4First frost ~Oct 29Frost season at Henderson, KYSpring: a frost after March 22 in 9 years out of 10, after April 4 in half of the years, after April 19 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 17 in 1 year out of 10, before October 29 in half of the years, before November 10 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 207 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 4First frost ~Oct 29
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 28 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 19October 17
50% (typical)April 4October 29
90% (likely)March 22November 10
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
207 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 26
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 8

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 1 (3 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 31 (2 days later). Frost-free season 212 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 Henderson: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 19, 20% April 14, 30% April 10, 40% April 7, 50% April 4, 60% April 2, 70% March 31, 80% March 27, 90% March 22. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 21, 2022 March 28.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1Apr 19Apr 4Mar 222021: April 212022: March 28Fall at Henderson: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 17, 20% October 22, 30% October 25, 40% October 27, 50% October 29, 60% October 31, 70% November 2, 80% November 5, 90% November 10. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 3, 2022 October 18.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Oct 17Oct 29Nov 102021: November 32022: October 18
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 21November 3
2022March 28October 18
2023incomplete recordincomplete record
2024incomplete recordno data
2025no datano data
2026no dataseason not over yet

What these dates mean

Setting out tender crops on March 22 in Henderson carries a 90% chance of a frost, making it a gamble. The cautious alternative is April 19, when only a 10% chance of a frost remains. For a gardener, the 50% date for light frost is April 4; there is a 50% chance of a frost later than this date.

For the autumn season, finishing tender crops by October 17 leaves a 10% chance that a frost has already arrived, while waiting until November 10 involves a 90% chance of an earlier frost, a gamble. For a gardener, the 50% date for fall light frost is October 29, meaning a 50% chance of a frost earlier than this date. Hard-frost risk is highlighted by the median dates March 26 and November 8; a hard frost at 28 °F can damage plants more severely than a light frost at 32 °F.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after April 19" 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 17" 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 Henderson, KYNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Mount Vernon, IN — 18 mi; 2 — Evansville, IN — 21 mi; 3 — Boonville, IN — 28 mi; 4 — Carmi, IL — 36 mi; 5 — Princeton, IN — 42 mi.ILINKY25 mi · 40 km1. Mount Vernon, IN — 18 mi12. Evansville, IN — 21 mi23. Boonville, IN — 28 mi34. Carmi, IL — 36 mi45. Princeton, IN — 42 mi5
  1. Mount Vernon, IN 18 mi (29 km)
  2. Evansville, IN 21 mi (34 km)
  3. Boonville, IN 28 mi (45 km)
  4. Carmi, IL 36 mi (59 km)
  5. Princeton, IN 42 mi (67 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 7a: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 37.7558, -87.6456.