Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Bloomington, Illinois

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Normal 4NE, 5.2 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 25
First fall frostOct 16
172 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 251 year in 10 after May 11
First fall frostOct 161 year in 10 by Oct 2
Growing season172 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6a−10 to −5°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Bloomington in the next 7 nights?

The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Fri, Nov 6: 31°F (Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 PM CST to Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 AM CST).

Tonight: forecast low 41°F. Above 36°F.

NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.

3 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.

Overnight lows from the National Weather Service forecast for this location. This covers the available forecast window, not the first freeze of the whole season. Frost can form above 32°F on clear, calm nights.

Frost and freeze probabilities

Freeze dates shift from year to year. Spring percentages describe the chance of a freeze after the stated date; fall percentages describe the chance of a freeze by that date. The 10% spring date is the cautious one: a later freeze happens about 1 year in 10.

These dates describe historical probabilities, not this year’s forecast or the earliest and latest possible freezes. Different weather stations or probability thresholds can produce different published dates for the same city.

Average first hard freeze in Bloomington

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 27, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Normal 4NE. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.

TemperatureLast spring date
90% · 50% · 10% chance of a later freeze
First fall date
10% · 50% · 90% chance of an earlier freeze
Season
36°F frost possible Apr 21 · May 4 · May 22 Sep 23 · Oct 5 · Oct 18 153 days
32°F freeze Apr 11 · Apr 25 · May 11 Oct 2 · Oct 16 · Oct 29 172 days
28°F hard freeze Apr 1 · Apr 14 · May 1 Oct 12 · Oct 27 · Nov 12 195 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00116200. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Normal 4NE

Average low temperature by month

Months with lows near or below freezing carry frost risk

Where these frost dates come from

The frost dates for Bloomington, IL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Normal 4NE (station USC00116200, elevation 790 ft), 5.2 mi from Bloomington. Local conditions (valleys, hilltops, distance to water, city heat) can shift frost dates by days or weeks. The hardiness zone is from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA ARS and Oregon State University PRISM). See our methodology.

Frost dates near Bloomington

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Normal, IL 3.1 mi Apr 25 Oct 16
Clinton, IL 23 mi Apr 20 Oct 16
Eureka, IL 23 mi Apr 21 Oct 17
Morton, IL 28 mi Apr 21 Oct 17
Washington, IL 29 mi Apr 21 Oct 17
Lincoln, IL 31 mi Apr 20 Oct 16
East Peoria, IL 33 mi Apr 16 Oct 23
Pontiac, IL 34 mi Apr 16 Oct 24
Pekin, IL 35 mi Apr 16 Oct 23
Mahomet, IL 37 mi Apr 23 Oct 13

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Bloomington?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Bloomington is around April 25. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 11, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 11.

When is the first frost in Bloomington?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 16. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 2 and a 90% chance by October 29.

Can it frost in Bloomington after the last frost date?

Yes. Frost can form on clear, calm nights even when the air stays above 32°F. Temperatures of 36°F or lower, cold enough for frost on exposed plants, have a 50% chance of occurring after May 4.

What growing zone is Bloomington?

Bloomington is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a (average annual extreme minimum temperature −10 to −5°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 61701. See growing zones in Illinois.

More: all Illinois frost dates · Illinois growing zones · UV index today in Bloomington · frost vs. freeze