Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Mount Zion, Illinois

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Decatur Airport, 3.6 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 16
First fall frostOct 22
187 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 161 year in 10 after Apr 30
First fall frostOct 221 year in 10 by Oct 7
Growing season187 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6a−10 to −5°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Mount Zion 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 Mount Zion

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 2, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Decatur Airport. 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 13 · Apr 26 · May 12 Sep 26 · Oct 11 · Oct 23 164 days
32°F freeze Apr 3 · Apr 16 · Apr 30 Oct 7 · Oct 22 · Nov 3 187 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 20 · Apr 5 · Apr 21 Oct 21 · Nov 2 · Nov 17 210 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00003887. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Decatur Airport

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 Mount Zion, IL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Decatur Airport (station USW00003887, elevation 675 ft), 3.6 mi from Mount Zion. 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 Mount Zion

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Decatur, IL 5.6 mi Apr 14 Oct 24
Monticello, IL 24 mi Apr 23 Oct 13
Clinton, IL 25 mi Apr 20 Oct 16
Taylorville, IL 27 mi Apr 12 Oct 20
Pana, IL 29 mi Apr 17 Oct 23
Mattoon, IL 35 mi Apr 11 Oct 29
Lincoln, IL 36 mi Apr 20 Oct 16
Mahomet, IL 39 mi Apr 23 Oct 13
Savoy, IL 39 mi Apr 19 Oct 17
Champaign, IL 40 mi Apr 15 Oct 24

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Mount Zion?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Mount Zion is around April 16. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 30, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 3.

When is the first frost in Mount Zion?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 22. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 7 and a 90% chance by November 3.

Can it frost in Mount Zion 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 26.

What growing zone is Mount Zion?

Mount Zion 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 62549. See growing zones in Illinois.

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