U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USW00003889 · Kentucky

Frost Dates for Jackson, KY

NOAA weather station Jackson (USW00003889), Kentucky · elevation 1364 ft (416 m) · hardiness zone 7a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 25only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 650% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 150% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season208 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Jackson, KYSpring: a frost after March 21 in 9 years out of 10, after April 6 in half of the years, after April 25 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 18 in 1 year out of 10, before November 1 in half of the years, before November 17 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 208 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 6First frost ~Nov 1Frost season at Jackson, KYSpring: a frost after March 21 in 9 years out of 10, after April 6 in half of the years, after April 25 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 18 in 1 year out of 10, before November 1 in half of the years, before November 17 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 208 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 6First frost ~Nov 1
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 30 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 25October 18
50% (typical)April 6November 1
90% (likely)March 21November 17
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
208 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 27
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 12

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 6 (same as the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 1. Frost-free season 208 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 Jackson: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 25, 20% April 18, 30% April 13, 40% April 9, 50% April 6, 60% April 3, 70% March 31, 80% March 27, 90% March 21. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 22, 2022 April 10, 2023 March 21, 2024 March 24, 2025 April 9, 2026 March 28.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1Apr 25Apr 6Mar 212021: April 222022: April 102023: March 212024: March 242025: April 92026: March 28Fall at Jackson: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 18, 20% October 23, 30% October 26, 40% October 30, 50% November 1, 60% November 4, 70% November 7, 80% November 11, 90% November 17. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 3, 2022 November 12, 2023 October 31, 2024 November 21, 2025 November 9.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Oct 18Nov 1Nov 172021: November 32022: November 122023: October 312024: November 212025: November 9
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 10November 12
2023March 21October 31
2024March 24November 21
2025April 9November 9
2026March 28season not over yet

What these dates mean

The 208 days between the two 32°F 50% dates – April 6 and November 1 – define the window in which tender crops can normally be grown in Jackson, Kentucky. Within that span, a 50% chance of a light frost still exists at either end, so gardeners treat those dates as the median points of frost risk.

In spring, the cautious date for setting out tender crops is April 25, when there is only a 10 % chance of a light frost occurring later. In fall, the cautious date to finish harvesting tender crops is October 18, when there is only a 10 % chance that a light frost has arrived earlier. By contrast, planting on March 21 or staying out until November 17 carries a 90 % chance of frost and is considered a gamble.

A hard frost at 28°F, marked by the median dates March 27 and November 12, can damage or kill plants that survive a light frost at 32°F, so it represents a more severe threat.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after April 25" 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 18" 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 Jackson, KYNumbered nearest stations: 1 — near Morehead, KY — 39 mi; 2 — near London, KY — 55 mi; 3 — Clintwood, VA — 55 mi; 4 — Dunlow, WV — 55 mi; 5 — Big Stone Gap, VA — 58 mi.KYVAWV25 mi · 40 km1. near Morehead, KY — 39 mi12. near London, KY — 55 mi23. Clintwood, VA — 55 mi34. Dunlow, WV — 55 mi45. Big Stone Gap, VA — 58 mi5
  1. near Morehead, KY 39 mi (62 km)
  2. near London, KY 55 mi (88 km)
  3. Clintwood, VA 55 mi (88 km)
  4. Dunlow, WV 55 mi (89 km)
  5. Big Stone Gap, VA 58 mi (93 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: 37.5908, -83.3131.