Frost dates in Kentucky

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

Short answer

Across 11 NOAA weather stations in Kentucky, the average last spring frost runs from March 31 at Louisville Intl Airport to April 18 at Cincinnati Northern Ky Airport. The first fall frost comes as early as October 24 at Frankfort Capital City Airport and as late as November 7 at Louisville Intl Airport. Planting zones near these stations run from 6b to 7a.

Kentucky cities

Frost dates in Louisville: last frost April 3, first frost November 3
Frost dates in Lexington: last frost April 13, first frost October 28

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.

Kentucky frost dates by weather station

Station	Last spring frost	First fall frost	Frost-free	Zone nearby
Bowling Green 21 NNE 790 ft	April 4 1 in 10 after April 24	October 31 1 in 10 by October 18	210 days	7a
Bowling Green Warren Co Airport 523 ft	April 5 1 in 10 after April 21	October 31 1 in 10 by October 20	209 days	7a
Cincinnati Northern Ky Airport 869 ft	April 18 1 in 10 after May 7	October 25 1 in 10 by October 12	190 days	6b
Frankfort Capital City Airport 804 ft	April 15 1 in 10 after May 5	October 24 1 in 10 by October 13	192 days	6b
Jackson 1,364 ft	April 6 1 in 10 after April 25	November 1 1 in 10 by October 18	209 days	7a
Lexington Bluegrass Airport 980 ft	April 13 1 in 10 after May 1	October 28 1 in 10 by October 16	198 days	7a
London Corbin Airport 1,188 ft	April 15 1 in 10 after May 3	October 25 1 in 10 by October 13	193 days	7a
Louisville Bowman Fld 540 ft	April 3 1 in 10 after April 19	November 3 1 in 10 by October 21	214 days	7a
Louisville Intl Airport 488 ft	March 31 1 in 10 after April 16	November 7 1 in 10 by October 28	221 days	7a
Paducah 392 ft	April 5 1 in 10 after April 21	October 28 1 in 10 by October 15	206 days	7a
Versailles 3 NNW 891 ft	April 12 1 in 10 after May 2	October 28 1 in 10 by October 15	199 days	6b

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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