Checking current alerts… View NWS forecast and alerts.
Will it freeze in Columbia in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Columbia during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 45°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.
2 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 45°F Above 36°F · Slight Chance Drizzle then Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 34°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 34°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 38°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 41°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 43°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 44°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
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 Columbia
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 5, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Cahokia. 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 4 · Apr 18 · May 3 | Oct 5 · Oct 18 · Oct 28 | 181 days |
| 32°F freeze | Mar 22 · Apr 6 · Apr 20 | Oct 14 · Oct 27 · Nov 7 | 203 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 11 · Mar 27 · Apr 10 | Oct 25 · Nov 5 · Nov 23 | 225 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Cahokia
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 Columbia, IL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Cahokia (station USC00111160, elevation 400 ft), 7.6 mi from Columbia. 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 Columbia
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cahokia Heights, IL | 8.7 mi | Apr 8 | Oct 26 |
| Arnold, MO | 8.7 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 26 |
| Waterloo, IL | 8.7 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 26 |
| Shrewsbury, MO | 11 mi | Apr 1 | Nov 4 |
| Crestwood, MO | 11 mi | Apr 1 | Nov 4 |
| Sunset Hills, MO | 12 mi | Apr 1 | Nov 4 |
| Webster Groves, MO | 12 mi | Apr 1 | Nov 4 |
| East St. Louis, IL | 12 mi | Apr 8 | Oct 26 |
| Maplewood, MO | 12 mi | Apr 1 | Nov 4 |
| St. Louis, MO | 12 mi | Apr 1 | Nov 4 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Columbia?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Columbia is around April 6. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 20, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 22.
When is the first frost in Columbia?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 27. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 14 and a 90% chance by November 7.
Can it frost in Columbia 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 18.
What growing zone is Columbia?
Columbia 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 62236. See growing zones in Illinois.
More: all Illinois frost dates · Illinois growing zones · frost vs. freeze