Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Metropolis, Illinois

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Brookport Dam 52, 2.4 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 6
First fall frostOct 27
203 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 61 year in 10 after Apr 23
First fall frostOct 271 year in 10 by Oct 15
Growing season203 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 7a0 to 5°F average extreme low

Checking current alerts… View NWS forecast and alerts.

Will it freeze in Metropolis in the next 7 nights?

The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Sat, Nov 7: 32°F (Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 PM CST to Sun, Nov 8, 6:00 AM CST).

Tonight: forecast low 42°F. Above 36°F.

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

4 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 Metropolis

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 5, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Brookport Dam 52. 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 3 · Apr 19 · May 4 Oct 6 · Oct 18 · Oct 30 182 days
32°F freeze Mar 21 · Apr 6 · Apr 23 Oct 15 · Oct 27 · Nov 9 203 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 8 · Mar 27 · Apr 11 Oct 24 · Nov 5 · Nov 21 223 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00110993. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Brookport Dam 52

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 Metropolis, IL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Brookport Dam 52 (station USC00110993, elevation 330 ft), 2.4 mi from Metropolis. 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 Metropolis

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Paducah, KY 6.2 mi Apr 6 Oct 27
Mayfield, KY 29 mi Apr 9 Oct 19
Harrisburg, IL 42 mi Apr 7 Oct 26
Murray, KY 42 mi Apr 5 Nov 1
Marion, IL 43 mi Apr 9 Oct 22
Princeton, KY 44 mi Apr 11 Oct 24
Carterville, IL 48 mi Apr 9 Oct 22
Herrin, IL 48 mi Apr 9 Oct 22
Cape Girardeau, MO 49 mi Apr 5 Oct 25
Carbondale, IL 49 mi Apr 9 Oct 22

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Metropolis?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Metropolis is around April 6. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 23, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 21.

When is the first frost in Metropolis?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 27. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 15 and a 90% chance by November 9.

Can it frost in Metropolis 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 19.

What growing zone is Metropolis?

Metropolis is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 0 to 5°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 62960. See growing zones in Illinois.

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