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Will it freeze in Chester 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 42°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.
- Tonight 42°F Above 36°F · Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 31°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 31°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 34°F Frost possible · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 38°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 40°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 41°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
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 Chester
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 10, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Kaskaskia Rvr Navigation Lock. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.
| Temperature | Last 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 5 · Apr 20 · May 5 | Oct 4 · Oct 18 · Oct 31 | 179 days |
| 32°F freeze | Mar 22 · Apr 8 · Apr 25 | Oct 15 · Oct 30 · Nov 13 | 202 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 9 · Mar 28 · Apr 13 | Oct 27 · Nov 10 · Nov 30 | 228 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Kaskaskia Rvr Navigation Lock
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 Chester, IL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Kaskaskia Rvr Navigation Lock (station USC00114629, elevation 380 ft), 7.6 mi from Chester. 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 Chester
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ste. Genevieve, MO | 12 mi | Apr 8 | Oct 30 |
| Perryville, MO | 14 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 20 |
| Murphysboro, IL | 29 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 22 |
| Du Quoin, IL | 33 mi | Apr 6 | Oct 22 |
| Waterloo, IL | 34 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 26 |
| Farmington, MO | 34 mi | Apr 13 | Oct 21 |
| Carbondale, IL | 36 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 22 |
| Park Hills, MO | 37 mi | Apr 13 | Oct 21 |
| Festus, MO | 38 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 26 |
| Herculaneum, MO | 39 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 26 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Chester?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Chester is around April 8. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 25, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 22.
When is the first frost in Chester?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 30. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 15 and a 90% chance by November 13.
Can it frost in Chester 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 20.
What growing zone is Chester?
Chester is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 0 to 5°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 62233. See growing zones in Illinois.
More: all Illinois frost dates · Illinois growing zones · frost vs. freeze