Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Canton, Illinois

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Havana, 18 mi away (reasonable match).

Last spring frostApr 17
First fall frostOct 19
185 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 171 year in 10 after May 3
First fall frostOct 191 year in 10 by Oct 1
Growing season185 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6a−10 to −5°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Canton in the next 7 nights?

The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Fri, Nov 6: 29°F (Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 PM CST to Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 AM CST).

Tonight: forecast low 38°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 Canton

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 29, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Havana. 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 13 · Apr 26 · May 11 Sep 24 · Oct 8 · Oct 21 163 days
32°F freeze Apr 2 · Apr 17 · May 3 Oct 1 · Oct 19 · Oct 31 185 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 22 · Apr 5 · Apr 21 Oct 15 · Oct 29 · Nov 13 204 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00113940. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Havana

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 Canton, IL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Havana (station USC00113940, elevation 463 ft), 18 mi from Canton. 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 Canton

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Bartonville, IL 21 mi Apr 16 Oct 23
Pekin, IL 22 mi Apr 16 Oct 23
Peoria, IL 25 mi Apr 16 Oct 23
East Peoria, IL 27 mi Apr 16 Oct 23
Peoria Heights, IL 27 mi Apr 16 Oct 23
Morton, IL 30 mi Apr 21 Oct 17
Galesburg, IL 32 mi Apr 20 Oct 19
Washington, IL 33 mi Apr 21 Oct 17
Macomb, IL 35 mi Apr 17 Oct 22
Chillicothe, IL 37 mi Apr 20 Oct 17

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Canton?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Canton is around April 17. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 3, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 2.

When is the first frost in Canton?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 19. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 1 and a 90% chance by October 31.

Can it frost in Canton 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 April 26.

What growing zone is Canton?

Canton 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 61520. See growing zones in Illinois.

More: all Illinois frost dates · Illinois growing zones · frost vs. freeze