Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Centralia, Illinois

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Iuka 12 SW, 8.5 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 9
First fall frostOct 24
196 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 91 year in 10 after Apr 25
First fall frostOct 241 year in 10 by Oct 10
Growing season196 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6b−5 to 0°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Centralia in the next 7 nights?

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

Tonight: forecast low 44°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 Centralia

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 2, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Iuka 12 SW. 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 8 · Apr 23 · May 11 Sep 29 · Oct 14 · Oct 26 172 days
32°F freeze Mar 27 · Apr 9 · Apr 25 Oct 10 · Oct 24 · Nov 5 196 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 15 · Mar 30 · Apr 11 Oct 21 · Nov 2 · Nov 19 217 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00114400. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Iuka 12 SW

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 Centralia, IL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Iuka 12 SW (station USC00114400, elevation 590 ft), 8.5 mi from Centralia. 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 Centralia

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Salem, IL 11 mi Apr 9 Oct 26
Mount Vernon, IL 18 mi Apr 11 Oct 22
Greenville, IL 29 mi Apr 10 Oct 24
Vandalia, IL 31 mi Apr 10 Oct 24
Highland, IL 35 mi Apr 12 Oct 20
Du Quoin, IL 37 mi Apr 6 Oct 22
Mascoutah, IL 37 mi Apr 12 Oct 20
Benton, IL 37 mi Apr 4 Oct 28
Shiloh, IL 43 mi Apr 12 Oct 20
O'Fallon, IL 43 mi Apr 12 Oct 20

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Centralia?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Centralia is around April 9. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 25, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 27.

When is the first frost in Centralia?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 24. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 10 and a 90% chance by November 5.

Can it frost in Centralia 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 23.

What growing zone is Centralia?

Centralia is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −5 to 0°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 62801. See growing zones in Illinois.

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