U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USW00093997 · Kansas

Frost Dates for Russell, KS

NOAA weather station Russell Municipal Airport (USW00093997), Kansas · elevation 1864 ft (568 m) · hardiness zone 6b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 6only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 2250% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 1750% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season176 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone6bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Russell, KSSpring: a frost after April 9 in 9 years out of 10, after April 22 in half of the years, after May 6 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 1 in 1 year out of 10, before October 17 in half of the years, before October 31 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 176 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 22First frost ~Oct 17Frost season at Russell, KSSpring: a frost after April 9 in 9 years out of 10, after April 22 in half of the years, after May 6 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 1 in 1 year out of 10, before October 17 in half of the years, before October 31 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 176 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 22First frost ~Oct 17
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 6October 1
50% (typical)April 22October 17
90% (likely)April 9October 31
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
176 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 12
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
October 27

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 24 (2 days later than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 18 (1 day later). Frost-free season 177 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 Russell: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 6, 20% May 2, 30% April 29, 40% April 25, 50% April 22, 60% April 19, 70% April 16, 80% April 13, 90% April 9. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 21, 2022 April 26, 2023 May 1, 2024 April 21, 2025 April 15, 2026 April 19.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1May 6Apr 22Apr 92021: April 212022: April 262023: May 12024: April 212025: April 152026: April 19Fall at Russell: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 1, 20% October 6, 30% October 11, 40% October 14, 50% October 17, 60% October 20, 70% October 22, 80% October 26, 90% October 31. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 October 16, 2022 October 17, 2023 October 7, 2024 October 16, 2025 October 29.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 1Oct 17Oct 312021: October 162022: October 172023: October 72024: October 162025: October 29
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 21October 16
2022April 26October 17
2023May 1October 7
2024April 21October 16
2025April 15October 29
2026April 19season not over yet

What these dates mean

The 176 days between the 50% dates in Russell, April 22 and October 17, define the central window for light-frost risk. The 50% date is April 22; there is a 50% chance of a light frost later than this date. The 50% date is October 17; there is a 50% chance of a light frost earlier than this date.

For a cautious spring plan, the tender-crop date is May 6, when only a 10% chance of a light frost later exists. For a cautious fall plan, the tender-crop date is October 1, when only a 10% chance of a light frost earlier exists. The gamble dates are April 9 (90% chance later) and October 31 (90% chance earlier).

Hard frost at 28 °F, with median dates April 12 and October 27, can damage 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 May 6" 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 1" 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 Russell, KSNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Wilson Lake, KS — 18 mi; 2 — Hays, KS — 28 mi; 3 — Great Bend, KS — 36 mi; 4 — Plainville, KS — 40 mi; 5 — Kanopolis Lake, KS — 49 mi.25 mi · 40 km1. Wilson Lake, KS — 18 mi12. Hays, KS — 28 mi23. Great Bend, KS — 36 mi34. Plainville, KS — 40 mi45. Kanopolis Lake, KS — 49 mi5
  1. Wilson Lake, KS 18 mi (29 km)
  2. Hays, KS 28 mi (46 km)
  3. Great Bend, KS 36 mi (57 km)
  4. Plainville, KS 40 mi (64 km)
  5. Kanopolis Lake, KS 49 mi (79 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: 38.8761, -98.8092.