Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Highland Park, Illinois

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Chicago Botanic Garden, 3.2 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 26
First fall frostOct 21
176 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 261 year in 10 after May 11
First fall frostOct 211 year in 10 by Oct 5
Growing season176 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6a−10 to −5°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Highland Park in the next 7 nights?

No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Highland Park during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.

Tonight: forecast low 40°F. Above 36°F.

NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.

No nights at or below 36°F in the National Weather Service forecast for the next 7 nights.

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 Highland Park

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 1, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Chicago Botanic Garden. 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 24 · May 8 · May 26 Sep 28 · Oct 10 · Oct 24 154 days
32°F freeze Apr 11 · Apr 26 · May 11 Oct 5 · Oct 21 · Nov 2 176 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 31 · Apr 13 · Apr 28 Oct 17 · Nov 1 · Nov 14 202 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00111497. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Chicago Botanic Garden

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 Highland Park, IL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Chicago Botanic Garden (station USC00111497, elevation 630 ft), 3.2 mi from Highland Park. 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 Highland Park

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Highwood, IL 1.9 mi Apr 26 Oct 21
Deerfield, IL 2.5 mi Apr 26 Oct 21
Northbrook, IL 3.7 mi Apr 26 Oct 21
Glencoe, IL 4.3 mi Apr 26 Oct 21
Lake Forest, IL 4.3 mi Apr 26 Oct 21
Lincolnshire, IL 5.6 mi Apr 19 Oct 26
Northfield, IL 5.6 mi Apr 26 Oct 21
Winnetka, IL 6.2 mi Apr 26 Oct 21
Wheeling, IL 6.8 mi Apr 19 Oct 26
Glenview, IL 6.8 mi Apr 26 Oct 21

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Highland Park?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Highland Park is around April 26. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 11, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 11.

When is the first frost in Highland Park?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 21. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 5 and a 90% chance by November 2.

Can it frost in Highland Park 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 Highland Park?

Highland Park 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 60035. See growing zones in Illinois.

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