U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USW00014846 · Ohio

Frost Dates for Sandusky, OH

NOAA weather station Sandusky (USW00014846), Ohio · elevation 584 ft (178 m) · hardiness zone 6b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 23only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 1050% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 550% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season209 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone6bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Sandusky, OHSpring: a frost after March 31 in 9 years out of 10, after April 10 in half of the years, after April 23 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 23 in 1 year out of 10, before November 5 in half of the years, before November 20 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 209 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 10First frost ~Nov 5Frost season at Sandusky, OHSpring: a frost after March 31 in 9 years out of 10, after April 10 in half of the years, after April 23 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 23 in 1 year out of 10, before November 5 in half of the years, before November 20 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 209 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 10First frost ~Nov 5
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 27 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 23October 23
50% (typical)April 10November 5
90% (likely)March 31November 20
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
209 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 1
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 16

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 11 (1 day later than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 6 (1 day later). Frost-free season 209 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 Sandusky: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 23, 20% April 19, 30% April 16, 40% April 13, 50% April 10, 60% April 7, 70% April 4, 80% April 2, 90% March 31. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 22, 2022 April 20, 2023 March 30, 2024 March 28, 2025 April 9, 2026 April 8.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1Apr 23Apr 10Mar 312021: April 222022: April 202023: March 302024: March 282025: April 92026: April 8Fall at Sandusky: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 23, 20% October 29, 30% November 1, 40% November 3, 50% November 5, 60% November 8, 70% November 11, 80% November 15, 90% November 20. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 5, 2022 November 16, 2023 October 31, 2024 November 21, 2025 November 10.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Oct 23Nov 5Nov 202021: November 52022: November 162023: October 312024: November 212025: November 10
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 5
2022April 20November 16
2023March 30October 31
2024March 28November 21
2025April 9November 10
2026April 8season not over yet

What these dates mean

The 209 days between the 32°F 50% dates, April 10 and November 5, mark the span in which a light frost is as likely as not, later in spring or earlier in fall. For a gardener these median dates frame the central window for planning planting and harvesting activities.

The cautious date for setting out tender crops is April 23, when there is only a 10 % chance of a later light frost; planting on March 31 carries a 90 % chance of a frost and is a gamble. In the fall the cautious date to finish harvesting tender crops is October 23, with a 10 % chance that a light frost has arrived earlier, while November 20 carries a 90 % chance of an early frost and is risky. A hard frost at 28°F can damage plants more severely than a light frost at 32°F, so its 50% dates, April 1 and November 16, are also noteworthy.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after April 23" 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 23" 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 Sandusky, OHNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Norwalk, OH — 14 mi; 2 — Cleveland, OH — 44 mi; 3 — near Mansfield, OH — 45 mi; 4 — Bucyrus, OH — 46 mi; 5 — Bowling Green, OH — 47 mi.OH25 mi · 40 km1. Norwalk, OH — 14 mi12. Cleveland, OH — 44 mi23. near Mansfield, OH — 45 mi34. Bucyrus, OH — 46 mi45. Bowling Green, OH — 47 mi5
  1. Norwalk, OH 14 mi (22 km)
  2. Cleveland, OH 44 mi (72 km)
  3. near Mansfield, OH 45 mi (72 km)
  4. Bucyrus, OH 46 mi (74 km)
  5. Bowling Green, OH 47 mi (75 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: 41.45, -82.7167.