Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Effingham, Illinois

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Effingham 3SW, 4.0 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 13
First fall frostOct 24
191 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 131 year in 10 after Apr 29
First fall frostOct 241 year in 10 by Oct 9
Growing season191 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6b−5 to 0°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Effingham 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 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 Effingham

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 1, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Effingham 3SW. 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 10 · Apr 24 · May 11 Sep 29 · Oct 13 · Oct 25 170 days
32°F freeze Apr 1 · Apr 13 · Apr 29 Oct 9 · Oct 24 · Nov 5 191 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 17 · Apr 2 · Apr 17 Oct 20 · Nov 1 · Nov 19 214 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00112687. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Effingham 3SW

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 Effingham, IL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Effingham 3SW (station USC00112687, elevation 625 ft), 4.0 mi from Effingham. 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 Effingham

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Mattoon, IL 27 mi Apr 11 Oct 29
Vandalia, IL 32 mi Apr 10 Oct 24
Charleston, IL 32 mi Apr 15 Oct 23
Pana, IL 35 mi Apr 17 Oct 23
Olney, IL 37 mi Apr 15 Oct 23
Salem, IL 40 mi Apr 9 Oct 26
Robinson, IL 45 mi Apr 13 Oct 22
Greenville, IL 48 mi Apr 10 Oct 24
Mount Zion, IL 49 mi Apr 16 Oct 22
Hillsboro, IL 50 mi Apr 13 Oct 24

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Effingham?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Effingham is around April 13. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 29, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 1.

When is the first frost in Effingham?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 24. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 9 and a 90% chance by November 5.

Can it frost in Effingham 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 24.

What growing zone is Effingham?

Effingham 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 62401. See growing zones in Illinois.

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