Frost dates / By state
Frost dates in Missouri
NOAA 1991–2020 normals for a 32 °F freeze. Your own yard can run a little either side.
Short answer
Across 25 NOAA weather stations in Missouri, the average last spring frost runs from March 31 at Poplar Bluff Muni Airport to April 23 at Salem 10 W. The first fall frost comes as early as October 14 at Salem 10 W and as late as November 4 at St Louis Lambert Intl Airport. Planting zones near these stations run from 5b to 7b.
Missouri cities
- Frost dates in Kansas City: last frost April 4, first frost November 2
- Frost dates in St. Louis: last frost April 8, first frost October 26
- Frost dates in Springfield: last frost April 4, first frost October 27
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.
Missouri frost dates by weather station
| Station | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Frost-free | Zone nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advance 1 S 360 ft | April 7 1 in 10 after April 21 | October 27 1 in 10 by October 15 | 203 days | 7a |
| Cape Girardeau Muni Airport 336 ft | April 5 1 in 10 after April 21 | October 25 1 in 10 by October 12 | 203 days | 7a |
| Chillicothe 22 ENE 833 ft | April 15 1 in 10 after May 2 | October 20 1 in 10 by October 5 | 188 days | 6a |
| Chillicothe Agri-Sci 769 ft | April 15 1 in 10 after May 1 | October 21 1 in 10 by October 8 | 189 days | 6a |
| Columbia Rgnl Airport 893 ft | April 7 1 in 10 after April 21 | October 29 1 in 10 by October 16 | 205 days | 6b |
| Jefferson City Mem Airport 573 ft | April 10 1 in 10 after April 25 | October 26 1 in 10 by October 13 | 199 days | 6b |
| Joplin 24 N 952 ft | April 6 1 in 10 after April 23 | October 24 1 in 10 by October 8 | 201 days | 7a |
| Joplin Regional Airport 980 ft | April 9 1 in 10 after April 26 | October 27 1 in 10 by October 12 | 201 days | 7a |
| Kansas City Downtown Airport 742 ft | April 4 1 in 10 after April 20 | November 2 1 in 10 by October 21 | 212 days | 6b |
| Kansas City Intl Airport 1,005 ft | April 13 1 in 10 after April 29 | October 24 1 in 10 by October 9 | 194 days | 6b |
| Kirksville Rgnl Airport 966 ft | April 19 1 in 10 after May 5 | October 18 1 in 10 by October 1 | 182 days | 6a |
| Lees Summit Muni Airport 997 ft | April 7 1 in 10 after April 24 | October 29 1 in 10 by October 14 | 205 days | 6b |
| Marshall 790 ft | April 10 1 in 10 after April 27 | October 24 1 in 10 by October 12 | 197 days | 6b |
| Poplar Bluff Muni Airport 327 ft | March 31 1 in 10 after April 15 | October 31 1 in 10 by October 19 | 214 days | 7b |
| Salem 10 W 1,198 ft | April 23 1 in 10 after May 9 | October 14 1 in 10 by September 30 | 174 days | 6b |
| Sedalia Mem Airport 900 ft | April 10 1 in 10 after April 26 | October 26 1 in 10 by October 12 | 199 days | 6b |
| Springfield 1,278 ft | April 9 1 in 10 after April 27 | October 27 1 in 10 by October 14 | 201 days | 7a |
| Springfield Wbo 1,325 ft | April 4 1 in 10 after April 20 | October 27 1 in 10 by October 15 | 206 days | 6b |
| St Charles Co Airport 436 ft | April 5 1 in 10 after April 21 | October 27 1 in 10 by October 13 | 205 days | 6b |
| St Joseph Rosecrans Airport 818 ft | April 19 1 in 10 after May 3 | October 17 1 in 10 by September 30 | 181 days | 6a |
| St Louis Lambert Intl Airport 531 ft | April 2 1 in 10 after April 17 | November 4 1 in 10 by October 23 | 216 days | 7a |
| St Louis Sprt Of S L Airport 462 ft | April 12 1 in 10 after April 27 | October 23 1 in 10 by October 11 | 194 days | 6b |
| Tarkio 1,045 ft | April 19 1 in 10 after May 4 | October 15 1 in 10 by October 1 | 179 days | 5b |
| Vichy Rolla National Airport 1,127 ft | April 12 1 in 10 after April 30 | October 25 1 in 10 by October 11 | 196 days | 6b |
| West Plains Muni Airport 1,223 ft | April 8 1 in 10 after April 26 | October 25 1 in 10 by October 14 | 200 days | 7a |
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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Where the numbers come from
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
- PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University (zone data)
- NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal
- NOAA, Normals calculation methodology (frost-freeze probability dates)
- US Census Bureau, 2025 ZCTA gazetteer (ZIP code centers)