Illinois Frost Dates
Illinois has 170 NOAA weather stations with freeze records in the 1991–2020 climate normals. The typical last spring frost ranges from April 2 at Cairo 3n to May 2 at Mt Carroll; at half the stations it has come by April 18. The first fall frost typically arrives between October 7 at Mt Carroll and November 5 at Grand Chain Dam 53, with a median of October 21.
The growing season between the typical frosts runs from 154 days at Mt Carroll to 216 days at Grand Chain Dam 53; 185 days at the median station.
Every station in Illinois
Typical dates have a 50% chance of a frost after them in spring, and before them in fall; safer dates, 10%. A garden can differ from its nearest station, especially in a valley or on a hillside: see why your garden may differ.
| Station | Elevation | Last frost | Safer | First frost | Safer | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albion | 530 ft | Apr 4 | Apr 20 | Oct 28 | Oct 15 | 206 |
| Aledo | 730 ft | Apr 22 | May 6 | Oct 19 | Oct 6 | 181 |
| Alton - Melvin Price L&D | 405 ft | Apr 4 | Apr 19 | Nov 5 | Oct 25 | 214 |
| Altona | 765 ft | Apr 28 | May 12 | Oct 12 | Sep 28 | 165 |
| Anna 2 Nne | 640 ft | Apr 8 | Apr 26 | Oct 29 | Oct 17 | 203 |
| Antioch | 750 ft | Apr 23 | May 9 | Oct 21 | Oct 6 | 179 |
| Athens 4sw | 594 ft | Apr 19 | May 4 | Oct 19 | Oct 5 | 181 |
| Aurora | 660 ft | Apr 19 | May 4 | Oct 23 | Oct 9 | 185 |
| Avon | 640 ft | Apr 22 | May 8 | Oct 19 | Oct 5 | 177 |
| Barrington 3sw | 875 ft | Apr 25 | May 12 | Oct 19 | Oct 5 | 177 |
| Belleville Siu Rsch | 450 ft | Apr 12 | Apr 28 | Oct 20 | Oct 3 | 189 |
| Bentley | 650 ft | Apr 13 | Apr 30 | Oct 22 | Oct 8 | 191 |
| Benton 2 N | 445 ft | Apr 4 | Apr 21 | Oct 28 | Oct 15 | 206 |
| Bloomington 5w | 852 ft | Apr 21 | May 5 | Oct 20 | Oct 9 | 181 |
| Brookport Dam 52 | 330 ft | Apr 6 | Apr 23 | Oct 27 | Oct 15 | 203 |
| Brownstown 4 Sw | 530 ft | Apr 3 | Apr 25 | Oct 24 | Oct 9 | 202 |
| Cahokia St Louis Ap | 413 ft | Apr 8 | Apr 23 | Oct 26 | Oct 12 | 200 |
| Cahokia | 400 ft | Apr 6 | Apr 20 | Oct 27 | Oct 14 | 203 |
| Cairo 3n | 313 ft | Apr 2 | Apr 17 | Oct 31 | Oct 18 | 211 |
| Carbondale Sewage Plt | 390 ft | Apr 9 | Apr 25 | Oct 22 | Oct 10 | 195 |
| Carbondale Southern Il Ap | 406 ft | Apr 9 | Apr 25 | Oct 22 | Oct 8 | 195 |
| Carlinville | 621 ft | Apr 14 | Apr 30 | Oct 21 | Oct 5 | 188 |
| Carlyle Rsvr | 501 ft | Apr 6 | Apr 22 | Oct 29 | Oct 16 | 204 |
| Carmi 3 | 335 ft | Apr 15 | May 2 | Oct 19 | Oct 4 | 183 |
| Casey | 620 ft | Apr 14 | Apr 30 | Oct 20 | Oct 5 | 187 |
| Champaign 3s | 721 ft | Apr 15 | Apr 29 | Oct 24 | Oct 11 | 190 |
| Champaign 9 Sw | 700 ft | Apr 23 | May 9 | Oct 13 | Sep 28 | 170 |
| Champaign Willard Ap | 754 ft | Apr 19 | May 5 | Oct 17 | Oct 3 | 180 |
| Channahon Dresden Isl Dam | 505 ft | Apr 16 | May 3 | Oct 26 | Oct 13 | 191 |
| Charleston | 700 ft | Apr 15 | May 3 | Oct 23 | Oct 9 | 187 |
| Chenoa | 719 ft | Apr 23 | May 7 | Oct 15 | Sep 29 | 174 |
| Chicago Aurora Muni Ap | 710 ft | Apr 28 | May 11 | Oct 13 | Sep 27 | 166 |
| Chicago Botanic Garden | 630 ft | Apr 26 | May 11 | Oct 21 | Oct 5 | 176 |
| Chicago Midway Ap 3sw | 620 ft | Apr 10 | Apr 26 | Nov 1 | Oct 21 | 203 |
| Chicago Midway Ap | 612 ft | Apr 11 | Apr 27 | Oct 31 | Oct 20 | 201 |
| Chicago Northerly Is | 583 ft | Apr 10 | Apr 25 | Nov 5 | Oct 24 | 208 |
| Chicago Ohare Intl Ap | 658 ft | Apr 16 | May 1 | Oct 28 | Oct 15 | 193 |
| Chicago Palwaukee Ap | 636 ft | Apr 19 | May 3 | Oct 26 | Oct 13 | 190 |
| Chicago Waukegan Rgnl Ap | 727 ft | Apr 30 | May 16 | Oct 21 | Oct 5 | 173 |
| Compton 1 Nw | 905 ft | Apr 27 | May 14 | Oct 12 | Sep 27 | 167 |
| Congerville 2nw | 640 ft | Apr 21 | May 7 | Oct 17 | Oct 3 | 178 |
| Crystal Lake 4nw | 940 ft | Apr 25 | May 9 | Oct 22 | Oct 7 | 179 |
| Danville | 555 ft | Apr 21 | May 7 | Oct 20 | Oct 6 | 181 |
| De Kalb | 873 ft | Apr 24 | May 10 | Oct 18 | Oct 4 | 177 |
| Decatur Ap | 675 ft | Apr 16 | Apr 30 | Oct 22 | Oct 7 | 187 |
| Decatur Wtp | 639 ft | Apr 14 | May 1 | Oct 24 | Oct 11 | 192 |
| Dixon 1w | 660 ft | Apr 21 | May 5 | Oct 19 | Oct 4 | 180 |
| Dixon Springs Agric Ctr | 527 ft | Apr 14 | Apr 30 | Oct 21 | Oct 6 | 189 |
| Du Quoin 4 Se | 420 ft | Apr 6 | Apr 22 | Oct 22 | Oct 9 | 199 |
| Dwight | 628 ft | Apr 27 | May 14 | Oct 15 | Sep 30 | 170 |
| Effingham 3sw | 625 ft | Apr 13 | Apr 29 | Oct 24 | Oct 9 | 191 |
| Elgin | 763 ft | Apr 26 | May 12 | Oct 18 | Oct 3 | 174 |
| Elizabeth | 675 ft | May 1 | May 17 | Oct 9 | Sep 25 | 160 |
| Fairfield Radio Wfiw | 430 ft | Apr 7 | Apr 23 | Oct 26 | Oct 14 | 201 |
| Flora 5 Nw | 500 ft | Apr 10 | Apr 26 | Oct 23 | Oct 7 | 196 |
| Flora | 481 ft | Apr 9 | Apr 23 | Oct 24 | Oct 11 | 198 |
| Freeport Waste Wtp | 750 ft | Apr 26 | May 11 | Oct 13 | Sep 30 | 169 |
| Fulton L&D #13 | 592 ft | Apr 13 | Apr 28 | Oct 26 | Oct 13 | 195 |
| Galena | 822 ft | Apr 26 | May 11 | Oct 15 | Oct 1 | 170 |
| Galesburg | 761 ft | Apr 20 | May 5 | Oct 19 | Oct 4 | 180 |
| Galva | 810 ft | Apr 26 | May 11 | Oct 12 | Sep 25 | 166 |
| Geneseo | 639 ft | Apr 20 | May 6 | Oct 20 | Oct 5 | 180 |
| Gibson City | 750 ft | Apr 21 | May 5 | Oct 17 | Oct 5 | 178 |
| Gladstone Dam 18 | 538 ft | Apr 8 | Apr 23 | Oct 29 | Oct 17 | 202 |
| Golden | 718 ft | Apr 18 | May 1 | Oct 21 | Oct 6 | 187 |
| Grand Chain Dam 53 | 385 ft | Apr 3 | Apr 21 | Nov 5 | Oct 23 | 216 |
| Grayville | 435 ft | Apr 7 | Apr 23 | Oct 25 | Oct 12 | 201 |
| Harrisburg | 365 ft | Apr 7 | Apr 25 | Oct 26 | Oct 10 | 202 |
| Havana | 463 ft | Apr 17 | May 3 | Oct 19 | Oct 1 | 185 |
| Hennepin Wtr Trmt Plt | 460 ft | Apr 24 | May 10 | Oct 17 | Oct 1 | 174 |
| Hennepin | 515 ft | Apr 18 | May 3 | Oct 22 | Oct 7 | 188 |
| Hillsboro | 630 ft | Apr 13 | Apr 28 | Oct 24 | Oct 10 | 192 |
| Hoopeston | 710 ft | Apr 22 | May 8 | Oct 19 | Oct 5 | 180 |
| Illinois City Dam 16 | 550 ft | Apr 18 | May 2 | Oct 24 | Oct 11 | 188 |
| Iuka 12 Sw | 590 ft | Apr 9 | Apr 25 | Oct 24 | Oct 10 | 196 |
| Jacksonville 2 | 626 ft | Apr 17 | May 1 | Oct 21 | Oct 9 | 186 |
| Jacksonville 2e | 610 ft | Apr 19 | May 5 | Oct 17 | Oct 1 | 179 |
| Jerseyville 2 Sw | 630 ft | Apr 14 | Apr 30 | Oct 19 | Oct 7 | 187 |
| Joliet Brandon Rd Dam | 543 ft | Apr 19 | May 7 | Oct 25 | Oct 12 | 188 |
| Kankakee Metro Wastewater | 600 ft | Apr 19 | May 3 | Oct 24 | Oct 12 | 188 |
| Kaskaskia Rvr Navigation Lock | 380 ft | Apr 8 | Apr 25 | Oct 30 | Oct 15 | 202 |
| Kewanee 1 E | 780 ft | Apr 24 | May 8 | Oct 17 | Oct 3 | 175 |
| Knoxville | 728 ft | Apr 21 | May 6 | Oct 20 | Oct 7 | 181 |
| La Harpe | 690 ft | Apr 21 | May 5 | Oct 19 | Oct 4 | 180 |
| Lacon | 458 ft | Apr 20 | May 7 | Oct 17 | Oct 3 | 178 |
| Lake Villa 2ne | 840 ft | Apr 24 | May 9 | Oct 23 | Oct 8 | 180 |
| Lawrenceville 2wsw | 451 ft | Apr 12 | Apr 30 | Oct 25 | Oct 12 | 193 |
| Lawrenceville Intl Ap | 429 ft | Apr 8 | Apr 22 | Oct 26 | Oct 13 | 200 |
| Lincoln | 583 ft | Apr 20 | May 4 | Oct 16 | Oct 3 | 179 |
| Lisle-Morton Arboretum | 680 ft | Apr 28 | May 14 | Oct 16 | Oct 1 | 169 |
| Little Red School Hse | 715 ft | Apr 19 | May 5 | Oct 22 | Oct 8 | 183 |
| Marengo | 815 ft | Apr 28 | May 14 | Oct 12 | Sep 28 | 166 |
| Marseilles Lock | 490 ft | Apr 27 | May 13 | Oct 17 | Oct 3 | 171 |
| Mason City 4se | 600 ft | Apr 17 | May 4 | Oct 18 | Oct 4 | 182 |
| Mattoon Coles Co Ap | 721 ft | Apr 15 | Apr 30 | Oct 24 | Oct 9 | 189 |
| Mattoon | 701 ft | Apr 11 | Apr 28 | Oct 29 | Oct 15 | 199 |
| Mc Henry -Wg Stratton L&D | 736 ft | May 1 | May 19 | Oct 11 | Sep 27 | 162 |
| Mcleansboro | 446 ft | Apr 11 | Apr 26 | Oct 21 | Oct 6 | 190 |
| Minonk | 750 ft | Apr 26 | May 10 | Oct 17 | Oct 1 | 173 |
| Moline Quad City Intl Ap | 592 ft | Apr 24 | May 9 | Oct 18 | Oct 4 | 176 |
| Monmouth 4nw | 724 ft | Apr 22 | May 7 | Oct 14 | Sep 29 | 174 |
| Monmouth | 720 ft | Apr 22 | May 10 | Oct 15 | Sep 29 | 174 |
| Morris 1 Nw | 524 ft | Apr 20 | May 6 | Oct 23 | Oct 9 | 184 |
| Morrison | 632 ft | Apr 26 | May 11 | Oct 13 | Sep 30 | 167 |
| Morrisonville | 630 ft | Apr 12 | Apr 27 | Oct 20 | Oct 5 | 190 |
| Mt Carmel | 430 ft | Apr 2 | Apr 17 | Oct 31 | Oct 18 | 209 |
| Mt Carroll | 640 ft | May 2 | May 18 | Oct 7 | Sep 24 | 154 |
| Mt Vernon 3 Ne | 490 ft | Apr 11 | Apr 26 | Oct 22 | Oct 9 | 193 |
| Mundelein 4 Wsw | 840 ft | Apr 29 | May 15 | Oct 20 | Oct 4 | 172 |
| Nashville 1 E | 513 ft | Apr 7 | Apr 22 | Oct 26 | Oct 14 | 201 |
| Neoga 4nw | 643 ft | Apr 16 | Apr 29 | Oct 20 | Oct 4 | 185 |
| New Boston Dam 17 | 548 ft | Apr 14 | May 2 | Oct 24 | Oct 9 | 190 |
| Newton 6 Sse | 510 ft | Apr 13 | Apr 27 | Oct 22 | Oct 6 | 191 |
| Newton | 531 ft | Apr 13 | Apr 29 | Oct 22 | Oct 9 | 190 |
| Normal 4ne | 790 ft | Apr 25 | May 11 | Oct 16 | Oct 2 | 172 |
| Ogden | 675 ft | Apr 20 | May 7 | Oct 21 | Oct 8 | 182 |
| Olney 2s | 459 ft | Apr 15 | May 3 | Oct 23 | Oct 8 | 189 |
| Ottawa 5sw | 525 ft | Apr 20 | May 5 | Oct 22 | Oct 7 | 183 |
| Palestine | 450 ft | Apr 12 | Apr 26 | Oct 22 | Oct 5 | 193 |
| Pana | 650 ft | Apr 17 | May 3 | Oct 23 | Oct 8 | 188 |
| Paris Stp | 649 ft | Apr 21 | May 9 | Oct 20 | Oct 1 | 179 |
| Park Forest | 710 ft | Apr 23 | May 11 | Oct 20 | Oct 6 | 179 |
| Paw Paw 2s | 889 ft | Apr 27 | May 12 | Oct 15 | Sep 30 | 171 |
| Paxton 2 Wsw | 758 ft | Apr 23 | May 9 | Oct 12 | Sep 26 | 170 |
| Peoria Gtr Peoria Ap | 650 ft | Apr 16 | May 4 | Oct 23 | Oct 9 | 189 |
| Perry 6 Nw | 650 ft | Apr 18 | May 5 | Oct 15 | Sep 30 | 179 |
| Peru | 620 ft | Apr 24 | May 8 | Oct 18 | Oct 3 | 176 |
| Petersburg 1e | 600 ft | Apr 13 | Apr 28 | Oct 21 | Oct 7 | 189 |
| Piper City | 670 ft | Apr 25 | May 10 | Oct 20 | Oct 2 | 175 |
| Pittsfield #2 | 670 ft | Apr 14 | Apr 30 | Oct 21 | Oct 5 | 189 |
| Polo 5nw | 856 ft | Apr 29 | May 14 | Oct 7 | Sep 23 | 161 |
| Pontiac | 650 ft | Apr 16 | May 2 | Oct 24 | Oct 12 | 191 |
| Prairie City 2s | 650 ft | Apr 17 | May 2 | Oct 22 | Oct 7 | 185 |
| Princeton | 697 ft | Apr 22 | May 7 | Oct 17 | Oct 3 | 177 |
| Princeville | 750 ft | Apr 22 | May 6 | Oct 14 | Sep 29 | 174 |
| Quincy Dam 21 | 483 ft | Apr 8 | Apr 23 | Oct 30 | Oct 17 | 204 |
| Quincy Rgnl Ap | 769 ft | Apr 14 | May 1 | Oct 23 | Oct 10 | 191 |
| Ramsey | 600 ft | Apr 15 | May 1 | Oct 19 | Oct 3 | 185 |
| Rantoul | 740 ft | Apr 21 | May 6 | Oct 18 | Oct 5 | 179 |
| Rend Lake Dam | 455 ft | Apr 4 | Apr 19 | Oct 27 | Oct 16 | 204 |
| Robinson | 535 ft | Apr 13 | Apr 28 | Oct 22 | Oct 7 | 190 |
| Rochelle | 775 ft | Apr 26 | May 12 | Oct 13 | Sep 29 | 168 |
| Rock Island L&D 15 | 568 ft | Apr 19 | May 4 | Oct 22 | Oct 7 | 184 |
| Rockford Gtr Rockford Ap | 730 ft | Apr 24 | May 8 | Oct 17 | Oct 2 | 174 |
| Romeoville Wfo | 660 ft | Apr 20 | May 6 | Oct 22 | Oct 7 | 184 |
| Rosiclare 5nw | 400 ft | Apr 19 | May 8 | Oct 20 | Oct 7 | 181 |
| Rushville | 673 ft | Apr 16 | May 3 | Oct 23 | Oct 10 | 189 |
| Salem | 550 ft | Apr 9 | Apr 23 | Oct 26 | Oct 13 | 197 |
| Shabbona 5 Nne | 861 ft | Apr 28 | May 13 | Oct 10 | Sep 26 | 163 |
| Shelbyville Dam | 650 ft | Apr 10 | Apr 28 | Oct 24 | Oct 8 | 195 |
| Sidell 4n | 672 ft | Apr 19 | May 3 | Oct 19 | Oct 5 | 181 |
| Smithland L&D | 357 ft | Apr 3 | Apr 21 | Oct 30 | Oct 17 | 207 |
| Sparta 1 W | 535 ft | Apr 12 | Apr 29 | Oct 22 | Oct 7 | 191 |
| Springfield #2 | 599 ft | Apr 15 | Apr 30 | Oct 22 | Oct 9 | 188 |
| Springfield Capital Ap | 594 ft | Apr 14 | Apr 29 | Oct 20 | Oct 5 | 187 |
| Stockton 3 Nne | 970 ft | Apr 27 | May 12 | Oct 9 | Sep 26 | 165 |
| Streamwood | 819 ft | Apr 30 | May 16 | Oct 13 | Sep 29 | 163 |
| Streator 3 Se | 610 ft | Apr 12 | Apr 25 | Oct 28 | Oct 16 | 199 |
| Sullivan 3s | 640 ft | Apr 15 | Apr 30 | Oct 22 | Oct 6 | 187 |
| Tuscola | 651 ft | Apr 15 | May 1 | Oct 20 | Oct 7 | 188 |
| Vandalia | 490 ft | Apr 10 | Apr 24 | Oct 24 | Oct 11 | 196 |
| Virden | 675 ft | Apr 7 | Apr 21 | Oct 29 | Oct 16 | 205 |
| Walnut | 671 ft | Apr 24 | May 9 | Oct 14 | Sep 30 | 172 |
| Watseka 2 Nw | 620 ft | Apr 24 | May 10 | Oct 16 | Oct 1 | 174 |
| Waukegan | 700 ft | Apr 30 | May 14 | Oct 19 | Sep 30 | 170 |
| West Chicago Dupage Ap | 754 ft | Apr 25 | May 12 | Oct 19 | Oct 5 | 174 |
| Wheaton 3 Se | 680 ft | Apr 27 | May 14 | Oct 17 | Oct 1 | 173 |
| White Hall 1 E | 580 ft | Apr 13 | Apr 28 | Oct 22 | Oct 9 | 190 |
| Winchester | 551 ft | Apr 18 | May 5 | Oct 20 | Oct 5 | 183 |
| Windsor | 690 ft | Apr 16 | Apr 30 | Oct 22 | Oct 8 | 187 |
Plan your garden with these dates
Enter your ZIP code in the planner: it picks the nearest of these stations and dates every crop in your beds from its frosts. Free, in your browser.
Questions
When is the last frost in Illinois?
It depends on where you are. The typical last spring frost at Illinois's NOAA stations ranges from April 2 to May 2, and half of them have had it by April 18. Enter your ZIP code above for the station nearest you.
When is the first frost in Illinois?
Typically between October 7 and November 5, depending on the station; the median is October 21. Plan fall crops back from your own station's date.
What do "typical" and "safer" mean?
With the typical (50%) last-frost date, half of years still have a frost after it. With the safer (10%) date, only one year in ten does. In fall it's the other way around: the safer date is the earlier one.
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