Checking current alerts… View NWS forecast and alerts.
Will it freeze in Rock Island in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Fri, Nov 6: 30°F (Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 PM CST to Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 AM CST).
Tonight: forecast low 40°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.
2 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 40°F Above 36°F · Mostly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 30°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 37°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 43°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 41°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 42°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 Rock Island
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 27, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Moline Quad City Intl Airport. 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 20 · May 4 · May 19 | Sep 24 · Oct 7 · Oct 20 | 156 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 9 · Apr 24 · May 9 | Oct 4 · Oct 18 · Oct 28 | 176 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 30 · Apr 12 · Apr 30 | Oct 15 · Oct 27 · Nov 7 | 197 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Moline Quad City Intl 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 Rock Island, IL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Moline Quad City Intl Airport (station USW00014923, elevation 592 ft), 3.2 mi from Rock Island. 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 Rock Island
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milan, IL | 2.5 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 18 |
| Moline, IL | 5.0 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 18 |
| Davenport, IA | 6.2 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 22 |
| Bettendorf, IA | 8.7 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 25 |
| Silvis, IL | 9.3 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 25 |
| East Moline, IL | 11 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 25 |
| Eldridge, IA | 12 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 17 |
| Geneseo, IL | 22 mi | Apr 20 | Oct 20 |
| DeWitt, IA | 24 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 16 |
| Muscatine, IA | 25 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 14 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Rock Island?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Rock Island is around April 24. 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 Rock Island?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 18. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 4 and a 90% chance by October 28.
Can it frost in Rock Island 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 Rock Island?
Rock Island 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 61201. See growing zones in Illinois.
More: all Illinois frost dates · Illinois growing zones · UV index today in Rock Island · frost vs. freeze