Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Minooka, Illinois

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Channahon Dresden Island Dam, 3.7 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 16
First fall frostOct 26
191 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 161 year in 10 after May 3
First fall frostOct 261 year in 10 by Oct 13
Growing season191 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 5b−15 to −10°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Minooka 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 38°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 Minooka

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 6, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Channahon Dresden Island Dam. 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 15 · Apr 30 · May 14 Oct 1 · Oct 15 · Oct 28 169 days
32°F freeze Apr 3 · Apr 16 · May 3 Oct 13 · Oct 26 · Nov 8 191 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 20 · Apr 5 · Apr 19 Oct 24 · Nov 6 · Nov 23 214 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00111420. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Channahon Dresden Island Dam

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 Minooka, IL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Channahon Dresden Island Dam (station USC00111420, elevation 505 ft), 3.7 mi from Minooka. 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 Minooka

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Channahon, IL 1.9 mi Apr 16 Oct 26
Shorewood, IL 5.6 mi Apr 19 Oct 25
Joliet, IL 8.1 mi Apr 19 Oct 25
Morris, IL 8.7 mi Apr 20 Oct 23
Wilmington, IL 11 mi Apr 16 Oct 26
Coal City, IL 12 mi Apr 16 Oct 26
Plainfield, IL 12 mi Apr 20 Oct 22
Crest Hill, IL 12 mi Apr 20 Oct 22
Braidwood, IL 13 mi Apr 16 Oct 26
Romeoville, IL 16 mi Apr 20 Oct 22

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Minooka?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Minooka is around April 16. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 3, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 3.

When is the first frost in Minooka?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 26. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 13 and a 90% chance by November 8.

Can it frost in Minooka 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 30.

What growing zone is Minooka?

Minooka is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −15 to −10°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 60447. See growing zones in Illinois.

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