U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00148670 · Kansas

Frost Dates for Wellington, KS

NOAA weather station Wellington (USC00148670), Kansas · elevation 1224 ft (373 m) · hardiness zone 7a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 30only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 1550% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 2950% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season195 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Wellington, KSSpring: a frost after March 29 in 9 years out of 10, after April 15 in half of the years, after April 30 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 14 in 1 year out of 10, before October 29 in half of the years, before November 10 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 195 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 15First frost ~Oct 29Frost season at Wellington, KSSpring: a frost after March 29 in 9 years out of 10, after April 15 in half of the years, after April 30 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 14 in 1 year out of 10, before October 29 in half of the years, before November 10 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 195 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 15First frost ~Oct 29
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 28 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 30October 14
50% (typical)April 15October 29
90% (likely)March 29November 10
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
195 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 3
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 5

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 16 (1 day later than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 28 (1 day earlier). Frost-free season 195 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 Wellington: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 30, 20% April 25, 30% April 21, 40% April 18, 50% April 15, 60% April 11, 70% April 8, 80% April 3, 90% March 29. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 22, 2022 April 15, 2023 April 24, 2024 March 29, 2025 April 8, 2026 March 18.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1Apr 30Apr 15Mar 292021: April 222022: April 152023: April 242024: March 292025: April 82026: March 18Fall at Wellington: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 14, 20% October 19, 30% October 22, 40% October 25, 50% October 29, 60% November 1, 70% November 2, 80% November 5, 90% November 10. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 13, 2022 October 18, 2023 October 30, 2024 October 16, 2025 November 10.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 14Oct 29Nov 102021: November 132022: October 182023: October 302024: October 162025: 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 13
2022April 15October 18
2023April 24October 30
2024March 29October 16
2025April 8November 10
2026March 18season not over yet

What these dates mean

The 195 days between the 50% dates in Wellington mark the span when average temperatures usually stay above the light-frost threshold, giving gardeners a window for most outdoor activities.

The 50% date in spring is April 15; it represents an even chance that a light frost could still occur later. The 50% date in fall is October 29; it marks an even chance that a light frost could already have arrived earlier. Together they frame the central portion of the growing season.

For a cautious approach, tender crops are typically set out after the April 30 date, which carries only a 10 % chance of a light frost later, while harvesting is wrapped up by October 14, which also carries only a 10 % chance of a light frost earlier. The median hard-frost dates are April 3 in spring and November 5 in fall, and a hard frost at 28 °F can injure plants more severely than a light frost at 32 °F.

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 14" 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 Wellington, KSNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Winfield, KS — 26 mi; 2 — Wichita, KS — 27 mi; 3 — Anthony, KS — 34 mi; 4 — Ponca City, OK — 41 mi; 5 — El Dorado, KS — 49 mi.OK25 mi · 40 km1. Winfield, KS — 26 mi12. Wichita, KS — 27 mi23. Anthony, KS — 34 mi34. Ponca City, OK — 41 mi45. El Dorado, KS — 49 mi5
  1. Winfield, KS 26 mi (42 km)
  2. Wichita, KS 27 mi (43 km)
  3. Anthony, KS 34 mi (55 km)
  4. Ponca City, OK 41 mi (65 km)
  5. El Dorado, KS 49 mi (79 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: 37.2678, -97.4194.