Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Mattoon, Illinois

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Mattoon, 0.6 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 11
First fall frostOct 29
199 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 111 year in 10 after Apr 28
First fall frostOct 291 year in 10 by Oct 15
Growing season199 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6a−10 to −5°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Mattoon 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 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 Mattoon

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 7, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Mattoon. 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 23 · May 9 Oct 2 · Oct 19 · Oct 30 175 days
32°F freeze Mar 31 · Apr 11 · Apr 28 Oct 15 · Oct 29 · Nov 9 199 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 15 · Apr 2 · Apr 17 Oct 28 · Nov 7 · Nov 21 219 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00115430. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Mattoon

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 Mattoon, IL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Mattoon (station USC00115430, elevation 701 ft), 0.6 mi from Mattoon. 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 Mattoon

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Charleston, IL 9.9 mi Apr 15 Oct 23
Effingham, IL 27 mi Apr 13 Oct 24
Mount Zion, IL 35 mi Apr 16 Oct 22
Paris, IL 37 mi Apr 21 Oct 20
Pana, IL 39 mi Apr 17 Oct 23
Monticello, IL 40 mi Apr 23 Oct 13
Decatur, IL 40 mi Apr 14 Oct 24
Savoy, IL 40 mi Apr 19 Oct 17
Champaign, IL 44 mi Apr 15 Oct 24
Urbana, IL 45 mi Apr 15 Oct 24

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Mattoon?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Mattoon is around April 11. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 28, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 31.

When is the first frost in Mattoon?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 29. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 15 and a 90% chance by November 9.

Can it frost in Mattoon 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 23.

What growing zone is Mattoon?

Mattoon 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 61938. See growing zones in Illinois.

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