Frost dates in Indiana

NOAA 1991–2020 normals for a 32 °F freeze. Your own yard can run a little either side.

Short answer

Across 14 NOAA weather stations in Indiana, the average last spring frost runs from April 4 at Evansville Regional Airport to May 1 at South Bend Michiana Rgnl Airport. The first fall frost comes as early as October 18 at Lafayette Purdue Univ Airport and as late as October 30 at Bedford 5 WNW. Planting zones near these stations run from 6a to 7a.

Indiana cities

Frost dates in Indianapolis: last frost April 15, first frost October 26
Frost dates in Fort Wayne: last frost April 24, first frost October 21

Find yours by ZIP code

The table below is by weather station. For the station nearest you, and your planting zone, type your ZIP code.

Indiana frost dates by weather station

Station	Last spring frost	First fall frost	Frost-free	Zone nearby
Bedford 5 WNW 760 ft	April 10 1 in 10 after April 30	October 30 1 in 10 by October 16	203 days	6b
Bloomington Monroe Co Airport 844 ft	April 17 1 in 10 after May 5	October 22 1 in 10 by October 8	188 days	6b
Evansville Regional Airport 400 ft	April 4 1 in 10 after April 19	October 29 1 in 10 by October 17	208 days	7a
Ft Wayne Intl Airport 791 ft	April 24 1 in 10 after May 10	October 21 1 in 10 by October 8	180 days	6a
Goshen Muni Airport 827 ft	April 28 1 in 10 after May 13	October 19 1 in 10 by October 4	174 days	6a
Indianapolis 790 ft	April 15 1 in 10 after May 2	October 26 1 in 10 by October 13	194 days	6b
Indianapolis Eagle Creek Airport 823 ft	April 12 1 in 10 after April 29	October 29 1 in 10 by October 16	200 days	6a
Lafayette Purdue Univ Airport 599 ft	April 26 1 in 10 after May 14	October 18 1 in 10 by October 4	175 days	6a
Muncie Delaware Co Airport 937 ft	April 16 1 in 10 after May 2	October 25 1 in 10 by October 9	192 days	6a
Shelbyville Muni Airport 804 ft	April 14 1 in 10 after April 29	October 23 1 in 10 by October 11	192 days	6a
South Bend Michiana Rgnl Airport 773 ft	May 1 1 in 10 after May 17	October 19 1 in 10 by October 5	171 days	6a
Terre Haute Caa Airport 575 ft	April 14 1 in 10 after May 2	October 24 1 in 10 by October 7	193 days	6a
Terre Haute Hulman Rgnl Airport 575 ft	April 16 1 in 10 after May 3	October 18 1 in 10 by October 4	185 days	6a
Valparaiso Porter Co Muni Airport 770 ft	April 20 1 in 10 after May 7	October 26 1 in 10 by October 12	189 days	6a

The average date is NOAA's 50% date: half of years have a later last frost, or an earlier first one. Plan by the 1-in-10 date if a freeze would cost you plants. Stations are NOAA's main weather stations, mostly airports. “Zone nearby” is the USDA 2023 zone of the nearest ZIP code within 10 miles. NOAA counts the frost season from August to July, so in the warmest places the “first fall” freeze lands after New Year.

How these dates work

Frost dates come from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 Climate Normals, which work out from each weather station's daily lows how likely the last spring freeze and the first fall freeze (32 °F) are by each date. We use the station nearest the middle of your ZIP code and show its height and distance, since a station on a hill or by a lake can differ from your yard.

The average date is the 50% date: half of years have a freeze after the spring date or before the fall one. The 1-in-10 dates are NOAA's 10% dates, the ones to plan by if a late freeze would cost you plants. Within one yard, cold air pools in low spots while walls and paving hold heat, so some corners freeze before others.

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