Frost Dates in Illinois
Across 170 NOAA weather stations in Illinois, the average last spring frost falls between April 2 at Cairo 3N and May 2 at Mt Carroll. At a typical Illinois station it is around April 18, with the first fall frost around October 21 and a frost-free season of about 185 days.
Find the frost dates for your ZIP code
A typical Illinois season
What shapes frost dates in Illinois
- The frost-free season ranges from 154 days at Mt Carroll to 216 days at Grand Chain Dam 53.
- Gardens in valleys and low spots, where cold air settles, often frost a week or more later in spring than the nearest station.
Frost dates at major airports
| Station | Last frost | Safer date | First frost | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belleville Siu Rsch | Apr 12 | Apr 28 | Oct 20 | 189 |
| Cahokia St Louis Airport | Apr 8 | Apr 23 | Oct 26 | 200 |
| Cairo 3N | Apr 2 | Apr 17 | Oct 31 | 211 |
| Carbondale Southern Il Airport | Apr 9 | Apr 25 | Oct 22 | 195 |
| Champaign 9 SW | Apr 23 | May 9 | Oct 13 | 170 |
| Champaign Willard Airport | Apr 19 | May 5 | Oct 17 | 180 |
| Chicago Aurora Muni Airport | Apr 28 | May 11 | Oct 13 | 166 |
| Chicago Midway Airport | Apr 11 | Apr 27 | Oct 31 | 201 |
| Chicago Ohare Intl Airport | Apr 16 | May 1 | Oct 28 | 193 |
| Chicago Palwaukee Airport | Apr 19 | May 3 | Oct 26 | 190 |
| Chicago Waukegan Rgnl Airport | Apr 30 | May 16 | Oct 21 | 173 |
| Decatur Airport | Apr 16 | Apr 30 | Oct 22 | 187 |
| Lawrenceville Intl Airport | Apr 8 | Apr 22 | Oct 26 | 200 |
| Mattoon Coles Co Airport | Apr 15 | Apr 30 | Oct 24 | 189 |
| Moline Quad City Intl Airport | Apr 24 | May 9 | Oct 18 | 176 |
| Peoria Gtr Peoria Airport | Apr 16 | May 4 | Oct 23 | 189 |
| Quincy Rgnl Airport | Apr 14 | May 1 | Oct 23 | 191 |
| Rantoul | Apr 21 | May 6 | Oct 18 | 179 |
| Rockford Gtr Rockford Airport | Apr 24 | May 8 | Oct 17 | 174 |
| Shabbona 5 NNE | Apr 28 | May 13 | Oct 10 | 163 |
| Springfield Capital Airport | Apr 14 | Apr 29 | Oct 20 | 187 |
| West Chicago Dupage Airport | Apr 25 | May 12 | Oct 19 | 174 |
All 170 weather stations in Illinois
| Station | Elevation (ft) | Last frost | Safer date | First frost | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albion | 530 | Apr 4 | Apr 20 | Oct 28 | 206 |
| Aledo | 730 | Apr 22 | May 6 | Oct 19 | 181 |
| Alton - Melvin Price L&d | 405 | Apr 4 | Apr 19 | Nov 5 | 214 |
| Altona | 765 | Apr 28 | May 12 | Oct 12 | 165 |
| Anna 2 NNE | 640 | Apr 8 | Apr 26 | Oct 29 | 203 |
| Antioch | 750 | Apr 23 | May 9 | Oct 21 | 179 |
| Athens 4SW | 594 | Apr 19 | May 4 | Oct 19 | 181 |
| Aurora | 660 | Apr 19 | May 4 | Oct 23 | 185 |
| Avon | 640 | Apr 22 | May 8 | Oct 19 | 177 |
| Barrington 3SW | 875 | Apr 25 | May 12 | Oct 19 | 177 |
| Belleville Siu Rsch | 450 | Apr 12 | Apr 28 | Oct 20 | 189 |
| Bentley | 650 | Apr 13 | Apr 30 | Oct 22 | 191 |
| Benton 2 N | 445 | Apr 4 | Apr 21 | Oct 28 | 206 |
| Bloomington 5W | 852 | Apr 21 | May 5 | Oct 20 | 181 |
| Brookport Dam 52 | 330 | Apr 6 | Apr 23 | Oct 27 | 203 |
| Brownstown 4 SW | 530 | Apr 3 | Apr 25 | Oct 24 | 202 |
| Cahokia | 400 | Apr 6 | Apr 20 | Oct 27 | 203 |
| Cahokia St Louis Airport | 413 | Apr 8 | Apr 23 | Oct 26 | 200 |
| Cairo 3N | 313 | Apr 2 | Apr 17 | Oct 31 | 211 |
| Carbondale Sewage Plt | 390 | Apr 9 | Apr 25 | Oct 22 | 195 |
| Carbondale Southern Il Airport | 406 | Apr 9 | Apr 25 | Oct 22 | 195 |
| Carlinville | 621 | Apr 14 | Apr 30 | Oct 21 | 188 |
| Carlyle Rsvr | 501 | Apr 6 | Apr 22 | Oct 29 | 204 |
| Carmi 3 | 335 | Apr 15 | May 2 | Oct 19 | 183 |
| Casey | 620 | Apr 14 | Apr 30 | Oct 20 | 187 |
| Champaign 3S | 721 | Apr 15 | Apr 29 | Oct 24 | 190 |
| Champaign 9 SW | 700 | Apr 23 | May 9 | Oct 13 | 170 |
| Champaign Willard Airport | 754 | Apr 19 | May 5 | Oct 17 | 180 |
| Channahon Dresden Isl Dam | 505 | Apr 16 | May 3 | Oct 26 | 191 |
| Charleston | 700 | Apr 15 | May 3 | Oct 23 | 187 |
| Chenoa | 719 | Apr 23 | May 7 | Oct 15 | 174 |
| Chicago Aurora Muni Airport | 710 | Apr 28 | May 11 | Oct 13 | 166 |
| Chicago Botanic Garden | 630 | Apr 26 | May 11 | Oct 21 | 176 |
| Chicago Midway Airport | 612 | Apr 11 | Apr 27 | Oct 31 | 201 |
| Chicago Midway Airport 3SW | 620 | Apr 10 | Apr 26 | Nov 1 | 203 |
| Chicago Northerly Is | 583 | Apr 10 | Apr 25 | Nov 5 | 208 |
| Chicago Ohare Intl Airport | 658 | Apr 16 | May 1 | Oct 28 | 193 |
| Chicago Palwaukee Airport | 636 | Apr 19 | May 3 | Oct 26 | 190 |
| Chicago Waukegan Rgnl Airport | 727 | Apr 30 | May 16 | Oct 21 | 173 |
| Compton 1 NW | 905 | Apr 27 | May 14 | Oct 12 | 167 |
| Congerville 2NW | 640 | Apr 21 | May 7 | Oct 17 | 178 |
| Crystal Lake 4NW | 940 | Apr 25 | May 9 | Oct 22 | 179 |
| Danville | 555 | Apr 21 | May 7 | Oct 20 | 181 |
| De Kalb | 873 | Apr 24 | May 10 | Oct 18 | 177 |
| Decatur Airport | 675 | Apr 16 | Apr 30 | Oct 22 | 187 |
| Decatur Wtp | 639 | Apr 14 | May 1 | Oct 24 | 192 |
| Dixon 1W | 660 | Apr 21 | May 5 | Oct 19 | 180 |
| Dixon Springs Agric Ctr | 527 | Apr 14 | Apr 30 | Oct 21 | 189 |
| Du Quoin 4 SE | 420 | Apr 6 | Apr 22 | Oct 22 | 199 |
| Dwight | 628 | Apr 27 | May 14 | Oct 15 | 170 |
| Effingham 3SW | 625 | Apr 13 | Apr 29 | Oct 24 | 191 |
| Elgin | 763 | Apr 26 | May 12 | Oct 18 | 174 |
| Elizabeth | 675 | May 1 | May 17 | Oct 9 | 160 |
| Fairfield Radio Wfiw | 430 | Apr 7 | Apr 23 | Oct 26 | 201 |
| Flora | 481 | Apr 9 | Apr 23 | Oct 24 | 198 |
| Flora 5 NW | 500 | Apr 10 | Apr 26 | Oct 23 | 196 |
| Freeport Waste Wtp | 750 | Apr 26 | May 11 | Oct 13 | 169 |
| Fulton L&d #13 | 592 | Apr 13 | Apr 28 | Oct 26 | 195 |
| Galena | 822 | Apr 26 | May 11 | Oct 15 | 170 |
| Galesburg | 761 | Apr 20 | May 5 | Oct 19 | 180 |
| Galva | 810 | Apr 26 | May 11 | Oct 12 | 166 |
| Geneseo | 639 | Apr 20 | May 6 | Oct 20 | 180 |
| Gibson City | 750 | Apr 21 | May 5 | Oct 17 | 178 |
| Gladstone Dam 18 | 538 | Apr 8 | Apr 23 | Oct 29 | 202 |
| Golden | 718 | Apr 18 | May 1 | Oct 21 | 187 |
| Grand Chain Dam 53 | 385 | Apr 3 | Apr 21 | Nov 5 | 216 |
| Grayville | 435 | Apr 7 | Apr 23 | Oct 25 | 201 |
| Harrisburg | 365 | Apr 7 | Apr 25 | Oct 26 | 202 |
| Havana | 463 | Apr 17 | May 3 | Oct 19 | 185 |
| Hennepin | 515 | Apr 18 | May 3 | Oct 22 | 188 |
| Hennepin Wtr Trmt Plt | 460 | Apr 24 | May 10 | Oct 17 | 174 |
| Hillsboro | 630 | Apr 13 | Apr 28 | Oct 24 | 192 |
| Hoopeston | 710 | Apr 22 | May 8 | Oct 19 | 180 |
| Illinois City Dam 16 | 550 | Apr 18 | May 2 | Oct 24 | 188 |
| Iuka 12 SW | 590 | Apr 9 | Apr 25 | Oct 24 | 196 |
| Jacksonville 2 | 626 | Apr 17 | May 1 | Oct 21 | 186 |
| Jacksonville 2E | 610 | Apr 19 | May 5 | Oct 17 | 179 |
| Jerseyville 2 SW | 630 | Apr 14 | Apr 30 | Oct 19 | 187 |
| Joliet Brandon Rd Dam | 543 | Apr 19 | May 7 | Oct 25 | 188 |
| Kankakee Metro Wastewater | 600 | Apr 19 | May 3 | Oct 24 | 188 |
| Kaskaskia Rvr Navigation Lock | 380 | Apr 8 | Apr 25 | Oct 30 | 202 |
| Kewanee 1 E | 780 | Apr 24 | May 8 | Oct 17 | 175 |
| Knoxville | 728 | Apr 21 | May 6 | Oct 20 | 181 |
| La Harpe | 690 | Apr 21 | May 5 | Oct 19 | 180 |
| Lacon | 458 | Apr 20 | May 7 | Oct 17 | 178 |
| Lake Villa 2NE | 840 | Apr 24 | May 9 | Oct 23 | 180 |
| Lawrenceville 2WSW | 451 | Apr 12 | Apr 30 | Oct 25 | 193 |
| Lawrenceville Intl Airport | 429 | Apr 8 | Apr 22 | Oct 26 | 200 |
| Lincoln | 583 | Apr 20 | May 4 | Oct 16 | 179 |
| Lisle-Morton Arboretum | 680 | Apr 28 | May 14 | Oct 16 | 169 |
| Little Red School Hse | 715 | Apr 19 | May 5 | Oct 22 | 183 |
| Marengo | 815 | Apr 28 | May 14 | Oct 12 | 166 |
| Marseilles Lock | 490 | Apr 27 | May 13 | Oct 17 | 171 |
| Mason City 4SE | 600 | Apr 17 | May 4 | Oct 18 | 182 |
| Mattoon | 701 | Apr 11 | Apr 28 | Oct 29 | 199 |
| Mattoon Coles Co Airport | 721 | Apr 15 | Apr 30 | Oct 24 | 189 |
| Mc Henry -Wg Stratton L&d | 736 | May 1 | May 19 | Oct 11 | 162 |
| Mcleansboro | 446 | Apr 11 | Apr 26 | Oct 21 | 190 |
| Minonk | 750 | Apr 26 | May 10 | Oct 17 | 173 |
| Moline Quad City Intl Airport | 592 | Apr 24 | May 9 | Oct 18 | 176 |
| Monmouth | 720 | Apr 22 | May 10 | Oct 15 | 174 |
| Monmouth 4NW | 724 | Apr 22 | May 7 | Oct 14 | 174 |
| Morris 1 NW | 524 | Apr 20 | May 6 | Oct 23 | 184 |
| Morrison | 632 | Apr 26 | May 11 | Oct 13 | 167 |
| Morrisonville | 630 | Apr 12 | Apr 27 | Oct 20 | 190 |
| Mt Carmel | 430 | Apr 2 | Apr 17 | Oct 31 | 209 |
| Mt Carroll | 640 | May 2 | May 18 | Oct 7 | 154 |
| Mt Vernon 3 NE | 490 | Apr 11 | Apr 26 | Oct 22 | 193 |
| Mundelein 4 WSW | 840 | Apr 29 | May 15 | Oct 20 | 172 |
| Nashville 1 E | 513 | Apr 7 | Apr 22 | Oct 26 | 201 |
| Neoga 4NW | 643 | Apr 16 | Apr 29 | Oct 20 | 185 |
| New Boston Dam 17 | 548 | Apr 14 | May 2 | Oct 24 | 190 |
| Newton | 531 | Apr 13 | Apr 29 | Oct 22 | 190 |
| Newton 6 SSE | 510 | Apr 13 | Apr 27 | Oct 22 | 191 |
| Normal 4NE | 790 | Apr 25 | May 11 | Oct 16 | 172 |
| Ogden | 675 | Apr 20 | May 7 | Oct 21 | 182 |
| Olney 2S | 459 | Apr 15 | May 3 | Oct 23 | 189 |
| Ottawa 5SW | 525 | Apr 20 | May 5 | Oct 22 | 183 |
| Palestine | 450 | Apr 12 | Apr 26 | Oct 22 | 193 |
| Pana | 650 | Apr 17 | May 3 | Oct 23 | 188 |
| Paris Stp | 649 | Apr 21 | May 9 | Oct 20 | 179 |
| Park Forest | 710 | Apr 23 | May 11 | Oct 20 | 179 |
| Paw Paw 2S | 889 | Apr 27 | May 12 | Oct 15 | 171 |
| Paxton 2 WSW | 758 | Apr 23 | May 9 | Oct 12 | 170 |
| Peoria Gtr Peoria Airport | 650 | Apr 16 | May 4 | Oct 23 | 189 |
| Perry 6 NW | 650 | Apr 18 | May 5 | Oct 15 | 179 |
| Peru | 620 | Apr 24 | May 8 | Oct 18 | 176 |
| Petersburg 1E | 600 | Apr 13 | Apr 28 | Oct 21 | 189 |
| Piper City | 670 | Apr 25 | May 10 | Oct 20 | 175 |
| Pittsfield #2 | 670 | Apr 14 | Apr 30 | Oct 21 | 189 |
| Polo 5NW | 856 | Apr 29 | May 14 | Oct 7 | 161 |
| Pontiac | 650 | Apr 16 | May 2 | Oct 24 | 191 |
| Prairie City 2S | 650 | Apr 17 | May 2 | Oct 22 | 185 |
| Princeton | 697 | Apr 22 | May 7 | Oct 17 | 177 |
| Princeville | 750 | Apr 22 | May 6 | Oct 14 | 174 |
| Quincy Dam 21 | 483 | Apr 8 | Apr 23 | Oct 30 | 204 |
| Quincy Rgnl Airport | 769 | Apr 14 | May 1 | Oct 23 | 191 |
| Ramsey | 600 | Apr 15 | May 1 | Oct 19 | 185 |
| Rantoul | 740 | Apr 21 | May 6 | Oct 18 | 179 |
| Rend Lake Dam | 455 | Apr 4 | Apr 19 | Oct 27 | 204 |
| Robinson | 535 | Apr 13 | Apr 28 | Oct 22 | 190 |
| Rochelle | 775 | Apr 26 | May 12 | Oct 13 | 168 |
| Rock Island L&d 15 | 568 | Apr 19 | May 4 | Oct 22 | 184 |
| Rockford Gtr Rockford Airport | 730 | Apr 24 | May 8 | Oct 17 | 174 |
| Romeoville Wfo | 660 | Apr 20 | May 6 | Oct 22 | 184 |
| Rosiclare 5NW | 400 | Apr 19 | May 8 | Oct 20 | 181 |
| Rushville | 673 | Apr 16 | May 3 | Oct 23 | 189 |
| Salem | 550 | Apr 9 | Apr 23 | Oct 26 | 197 |
| Shabbona 5 NNE | 861 | Apr 28 | May 13 | Oct 10 | 163 |
| Shelbyville Dam | 650 | Apr 10 | Apr 28 | Oct 24 | 195 |
| Sidell 4N | 672 | Apr 19 | May 3 | Oct 19 | 181 |
| Smithland L&d | 357 | Apr 3 | Apr 21 | Oct 30 | 207 |
| Sparta 1 W | 535 | Apr 12 | Apr 29 | Oct 22 | 191 |
| Springfield #2 | 599 | Apr 15 | Apr 30 | Oct 22 | 188 |
| Springfield Capital Airport | 594 | Apr 14 | Apr 29 | Oct 20 | 187 |
| Stockton 3 NNE | 970 | Apr 27 | May 12 | Oct 9 | 165 |
| Streamwood | 819 | Apr 30 | May 16 | Oct 13 | 163 |
| Streator 3 SE | 610 | Apr 12 | Apr 25 | Oct 28 | 199 |
| Sullivan 3S | 640 | Apr 15 | Apr 30 | Oct 22 | 187 |
| Tuscola | 651 | Apr 15 | May 1 | Oct 20 | 188 |
| Vandalia | 490 | Apr 10 | Apr 24 | Oct 24 | 196 |
| Virden | 675 | Apr 7 | Apr 21 | Oct 29 | 205 |
| Walnut | 671 | Apr 24 | May 9 | Oct 14 | 172 |
| Watseka 2 NW | 620 | Apr 24 | May 10 | Oct 16 | 174 |
| Waukegan | 700 | Apr 30 | May 14 | Oct 19 | 170 |
| West Chicago Dupage Airport | 754 | Apr 25 | May 12 | Oct 19 | 174 |
| Wheaton 3 SE | 680 | Apr 27 | May 14 | Oct 17 | 173 |
| White Hall 1 E | 580 | Apr 13 | Apr 28 | Oct 22 | 190 |
| Winchester | 551 | Apr 18 | May 5 | Oct 20 | 183 |
| Windsor | 690 | Apr 16 | Apr 30 | Oct 22 | 187 |
No station matches that name. Try a nearby town, or look up your ZIP code above.
Last frost and first frost are averages (a 50% chance of frost later in spring or earlier in fall). Safer date is the spring date with only a 10% chance of a later frost.
Using these dates
Plant hardy crops like peas and spinach several weeks before your last frost, and tender crops like tomatoes and peppers after it, once nights stay above 50°F. The Seed Starting Calculator turns your frost date into sowing and planting dates, and When to Plant Tomatoes explains the timing in detail.
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32°F threshold.
Frost dates in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
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- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
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- Maine
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