Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Monticello, Illinois

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Champaign 9 SW, 11 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 23
First fall frostOct 13
170 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 231 year in 10 after May 9
First fall frostOct 131 year in 10 by Sep 28
Growing season170 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6a−10 to −5°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Monticello 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 39°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 Monticello

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 23, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Champaign 9 SW. 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 20 · May 4 · May 22 Sep 20 · Oct 3 · Oct 16 151 days
32°F freeze Apr 9 · Apr 23 · May 9 Sep 28 · Oct 13 · Oct 25 170 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 29 · Apr 11 · Apr 28 Oct 8 · Oct 23 · Nov 4 193 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00054808. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Champaign 9 SW

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 Monticello, IL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Champaign 9 SW (station USW00054808, elevation 700 ft), 11 mi from Monticello. 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 Monticello

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Mahomet, IL 14 mi Apr 23 Oct 13
Champaign, IL 17 mi Apr 15 Oct 24
Savoy, IL 17 mi Apr 19 Oct 17
Urbana, IL 21 mi Apr 15 Oct 24
Clinton, IL 22 mi Apr 20 Oct 16
Decatur, IL 22 mi Apr 14 Oct 24
Mount Zion, IL 24 mi Apr 16 Oct 22
Rantoul, IL 29 mi Apr 21 Oct 18
Bloomington, IL 37 mi Apr 25 Oct 16
Mattoon, IL 40 mi Apr 11 Oct 29

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Monticello?

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

When is the first frost in Monticello?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 13. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 28 and a 90% chance by October 25.

Can it frost in Monticello 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 4.

What growing zone is Monticello?

Monticello 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 61856. See growing zones in Illinois.

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