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Will it freeze in Rantoul 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.
- Tonight 38°F Above 36°F · Chance Drizzle
- Fri, Nov 6 31°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 31°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 34°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 39°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 37°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
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 Rantoul
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 29, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Rantoul. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.
| Temperature | Last 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 18 · Apr 30 · May 17 | Sep 26 · Oct 8 · Oct 20 | 159 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 7 · Apr 21 · May 6 | Oct 5 · Oct 18 · Oct 31 | 179 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 30 · Apr 10 · Apr 26 | Oct 16 · Oct 29 · Nov 12 | 199 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Rantoul
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 Rantoul, IL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Rantoul (station USW00014806, elevation 740 ft), 0.7 mi from Rantoul. 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 Rantoul
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urbana, IL | 14 mi | Apr 15 | Oct 24 |
| Champaign, IL | 14 mi | Apr 15 | Oct 24 |
| Mahomet, IL | 15 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 13 |
| Savoy, IL | 17 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 17 |
| Monticello, IL | 29 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 13 |
| Danville, IL | 31 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 20 |
| Clinton, IL | 44 mi | Apr 20 | Oct 16 |
| Bloomington, IL | 45 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 16 |
| Normal, IL | 47 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 16 |
| Pontiac, IL | 48 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 24 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Rantoul?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Rantoul is around April 21. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 6, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 7.
When is the first frost in Rantoul?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 18. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 5 and a 90% chance by October 31.
Can it frost in Rantoul 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 Rantoul?
Rantoul 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 61866. See growing zones in Illinois.
More: all Illinois frost dates · Illinois growing zones · frost vs. freeze