Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Olney, Illinois

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Olney 2S, 1.9 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 15
First fall frostOct 23
189 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 151 year in 10 after May 3
First fall frostOct 231 year in 10 by Oct 8
Growing season189 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6b−5 to 0°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Olney 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 44°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 Olney

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 1, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Olney 2S. 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 11 · Apr 26 · May 13 Sep 29 · Oct 13 · Oct 26 168 days
32°F freeze Apr 1 · Apr 15 · May 3 Oct 8 · Oct 23 · Nov 3 189 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 19 · Apr 3 · Apr 18 Oct 17 · Nov 1 · Nov 15 211 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00116446. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Olney 2S

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 Olney, IL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Olney 2S (station USC00116446, elevation 459 ft), 1.9 mi from Olney. 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 Olney

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Robinson, IL 27 mi Apr 13 Oct 22
Mount Carmel, IL 27 mi Apr 2 Oct 31
Vincennes, IN 31 mi Apr 11 Oct 26
Effingham, IL 37 mi Apr 13 Oct 24
Princeton, IN 37 mi Apr 13 Oct 25
Salem, IL 48 mi Apr 9 Oct 26
Washington, IN 50 mi Apr 10 Oct 25
Charleston, IL 53 mi Apr 15 Oct 23
Mount Vernon, IL 53 mi Apr 11 Oct 22
Mattoon, IL 54 mi Apr 11 Oct 29

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Olney?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Olney is around April 15. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 3, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 1.

When is the first frost in Olney?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 23. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 8 and a 90% chance by November 3.

Can it frost in Olney 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 Olney?

Olney is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −5 to 0°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 62450. See growing zones in Illinois.

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