U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00146242 · Kansas

Frost Dates for Parsons, KS

NOAA weather station Parsons 2 NW (USC00146242), Kansas · elevation 910 ft (277 m) · hardiness zone 7a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 26only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 1150% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 2650% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season196 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Parsons, KSSpring: a frost after March 27 in 9 years out of 10, after April 11 in half of the years, after April 26 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 13 in 1 year out of 10, before October 26 in half of the years, before November 6 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 196 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 11First frost ~Oct 26Frost season at Parsons, KSSpring: a frost after March 27 in 9 years out of 10, after April 11 in half of the years, after April 26 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 13 in 1 year out of 10, before October 26 in half of the years, before November 6 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 196 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 11First frost ~Oct 26
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 26October 13
50% (typical)April 11October 26
90% (likely)March 27November 6
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
196 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 13 (2 days later than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 26. Frost-free season 194 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 Parsons: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 26, 20% April 22, 30% April 18, 40% April 15, 50% April 11, 60% April 8, 70% April 5, 80% April 1, 90% March 27. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 22, 2022 April 16, 2023 April 23, 2024 March 29, 2025 April 8, 2026 March 28.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1Apr 26Apr 11Mar 272021: April 222022: April 162023: April 232024: March 292025: April 82026: March 28Fall at Parsons: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 13, 20% October 18, 30% October 20, 40% October 23, 50% October 26, 60% October 28, 70% October 30, 80% November 2, 90% November 6. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 4, 2022 October 18, 2023 October 30, 2024 October 16, 2025 November 2.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 13Oct 26Nov 62021: November 42022: October 182023: October 302024: October 162025: November 2
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 4
2022April 16October 18
2023April 23October 30
2024March 29October 16
2025April 8November 2
2026March 28season not over yet

What these dates mean

October 13 is the cautious fall date to finish harvesting tender crops, because there is only a 10 % chance a light frost has arrived by then.

The 50 % dates mark the point where a light frost is equally likely. The 50 % date is April 11 in spring and October 26 in fall; they are not frost dates. For a cautious plan, tender crops are set out after the April 26 date in spring, which carries a 10 % chance of a later frost, while they are pulled in by October 13 in fall. The interval between the two 32 °F 50 % dates, April 11 and October 26, is 196 days, reflecting 30 years of observations.

Hard frosts at 28 °F are more damaging than light frosts at 32 °F, and the median hard-frost dates are April 1 and November 2.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after April 26" 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 13" 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 Parsons, KSNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Mound Valley, KS — 15 mi; 2 — near Chanute, KS — 24 mi; 3 — Independence, KS — 24 mi; 4 — Girard, KS — 26 mi; 5 — Columbus, KS — 28 mi.KSMO25 mi · 40 km1. Mound Valley, KS — 15 mi12. near Chanute, KS — 24 mi23. Independence, KS — 24 mi34. Girard, KS — 26 mi45. Columbus, KS — 28 mi5
  1. Mound Valley, KS 15 mi (25 km)
  2. near Chanute, KS 24 mi (38 km)
  3. Independence, KS 24 mi (39 km)
  4. Girard, KS 26 mi (43 km)
  5. Columbus, KS 28 mi (45 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: 37.3678, -95.2881.