U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00404876 · Tennessee

Frost Dates for Kingston Springs, TN

NOAA weather station Kingston Springs (USC00404876), Tennessee · elevation 517 ft (158 m) · hardiness zone 7b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 30only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 1350% 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 zone7bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Kingston Springs, TNSpring: a frost after March 27 in 9 years out of 10, after April 13 in half of the years, after April 30 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 7 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 195 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 13First frost ~Oct 25Frost season at Kingston Springs, TNSpring: a frost after March 27 in 9 years out of 10, after April 13 in half of the years, after April 30 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 7 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 195 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 13First 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.Today

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 30October 12
50% (typical)April 13October 25
90% (likely)March 27November 7
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 4

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 9 (4 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 28 (3 days later). Frost-free season 200 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 Kingston Springs: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 30, 20% April 24, 30% April 20, 40% April 16, 50% April 13, 60% April 10, 70% April 6, 80% April 1, 90% March 27.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1Apr 30Apr 13Mar 27Fall at Kingston Springs: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 12, 20% October 17, 30% October 20, 40% October 23, 50% October 25, 60% October 28, 70% October 31, 80% November 2, 90% November 7.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 12Oct 25Nov 7
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.

What these dates mean

Setting out tender crops on the early spring date of March 27 is a gamble, because a frost later than that day occurs with a 90% chance. The cautious spring date for tender crops is April 30, when only a 10% chance of a later frost remains.

For a gardener, the 50% dates mark the point at which the odds of a light frost are even: the 50% date is April 13 in spring and October 25 in fall. The cautious fall date to finish harvesting tender crops is October 12, which carries a 10% chance that a frost has already arrived. A hard frost, defined at 28 °F, is more damaging than a light frost at 32 °F because the lower temperature can injure or kill plants that survive a light frost. The 50% hard-frost dates are April 1 and November 4.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after April 30" 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 Kingston Springs, TNNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Dickson, TN — 16 mi; 2 — Nashville, TN — 24 mi; 3 — Springfield, TN — 30 mi; 4 — Columbia, TN — 32 mi; 5 — near Green Hill, TN — 32 mi.TNKY25 mi · 40 km1. Dickson, TN — 16 mi12. Nashville, TN — 24 mi23. Springfield, TN — 30 mi34. Columbia, TN — 32 mi45. near Green Hill, TN — 32 mi5
  1. Dickson, TN 16 mi (25 km)
  2. Nashville, TN 24 mi (38 km)
  3. Springfield, TN 30 mi (48 km)
  4. Columbia, TN 32 mi (52 km)
  5. near Green Hill, TN 32 mi (52 km)

Sources

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

Station coordinates: 36.1033, -87.1153.