Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Gurnee, Illinois

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Waukegan, 3.1 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 30
First fall frostOct 19
170 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 301 year in 10 after May 14
First fall frostOct 191 year in 10 by Sep 30
Growing season170 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6a−10 to −5°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Gurnee 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 37°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 Gurnee

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 30, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Waukegan. 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 25 · May 8 · May 27 Sep 22 · Oct 8 · Oct 24 151 days
32°F freeze Apr 15 · Apr 30 · May 14 Sep 30 · Oct 19 · Nov 3 170 days
28°F hard freeze Apr 5 · Apr 20 · May 3 Oct 12 · Oct 30 · Nov 13 191 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00119029. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Waukegan

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 Gurnee, IL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Waukegan (station USC00119029, elevation 700 ft), 3.1 mi from Gurnee. 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 Gurnee

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Park City, IL 2.5 mi Apr 30 Oct 19
Waukegan, IL 3.1 mi Apr 30 Oct 19
Grayslake, IL 5.6 mi Apr 29 Oct 20
North Chicago, IL 5.6 mi Apr 30 Oct 19
Lindenhurst, IL 5.6 mi Apr 24 Oct 23
Beach Park, IL 5.6 mi Apr 30 Oct 21
Libertyville, IL 6.2 mi Apr 29 Oct 20
Round Lake Beach, IL 7.5 mi Apr 24 Oct 23
Lake Bluff, IL 7.5 mi Apr 30 Oct 19
Zion, IL 7.5 mi Apr 30 Oct 21

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Gurnee?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Gurnee is around April 30. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 14, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 15.

When is the first frost in Gurnee?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 19. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 30 and a 90% chance by November 3.

Can it frost in Gurnee 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 May 8.

What growing zone is Gurnee?

Gurnee 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 60031. See growing zones in Illinois.

More: all Illinois frost dates · Illinois growing zones · UV index today in Gurnee · frost vs. freeze