Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Litchfield, Illinois

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Hillsboro, 9.4 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 13
First fall frostOct 24
192 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 131 year in 10 after Apr 28
First fall frostOct 241 year in 10 by Oct 10
Growing season192 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6b−5 to 0°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Litchfield in the next 7 nights?

The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Fri, Nov 6: 28°F (Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 PM CST to Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 AM CST).

Tonight: forecast low 41°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 Litchfield

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 2, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Hillsboro. 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 9 · Apr 24 · May 11 Sep 27 · Oct 13 · Oct 26 170 days
32°F freeze Mar 30 · Apr 13 · Apr 28 Oct 10 · Oct 24 · Nov 4 192 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 17 · Apr 2 · Apr 18 Oct 21 · Nov 2 · Nov 20 214 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00114108. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Hillsboro

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 Litchfield, IL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Hillsboro (station USC00114108, elevation 630 ft), 9.4 mi from Litchfield. 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 Litchfield

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Hillsboro, IL 11 mi Apr 13 Oct 24
Carlinville, IL 13 mi Apr 14 Oct 21
Greenville, IL 25 mi Apr 10 Oct 24
Bethalto, IL 28 mi Apr 4 Nov 5
Highland, IL 28 mi Apr 12 Oct 20
Wood River, IL 31 mi Apr 4 Nov 5
East Alton, IL 31 mi Apr 4 Nov 5
Edwardsville, IL 32 mi Apr 4 Nov 5
Alton, IL 32 mi Apr 4 Nov 5
Taylorville, IL 33 mi Apr 12 Oct 20

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Litchfield?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Litchfield is around April 13. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 28, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 30.

When is the first frost in Litchfield?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 24. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 10 and a 90% chance by November 4.

Can it frost in Litchfield 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 Litchfield?

Litchfield 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 62056. See growing zones in Illinois.

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