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Will it freeze in Columbus 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 EST to Sun, Nov 8, 6:00 AM EST).
Tonight: forecast low 45°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST.
3 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 45°F Above 36°F · Mostly Cloudy then Isolated Rain Showers
- Fri, Nov 6 34°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 32°F Freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 34°F Frost possible · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 37°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 37°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
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 Columbus
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 5, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Columbus. 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 10 · Apr 24 · May 10 | Oct 4 · Oct 15 · Oct 27 | 172 days |
| 32°F freeze | Mar 31 · Apr 11 · Apr 30 | Oct 12 · Oct 25 · Nov 7 | 195 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 16 · Apr 1 · Apr 14 | Oct 24 · Nov 5 · Nov 22 | 218 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Columbus
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 Columbus, IN come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Columbus (station USC00121747, elevation 609 ft), 2.9 mi from Columbus. 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 Columbus
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seymour, IN | 18 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 21 |
| North Vernon, IN | 21 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 21 |
| Franklin, IN | 21 mi | Apr 20 | Oct 19 |
| Greensburg, IN | 25 mi | Apr 15 | Oct 26 |
| Shelbyville, IN | 25 mi | Apr 17 | Oct 22 |
| Whiteland, IN | 25 mi | Apr 20 | Oct 19 |
| New Whiteland, IN | 26 mi | Apr 20 | Oct 19 |
| Bargersville, IN | 27 mi | Apr 20 | Oct 19 |
| Greenwood, IN | 29 mi | Apr 20 | Oct 21 |
| Martinsville, IN | 31 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 15 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Columbus?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Columbus is around April 11. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 30, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 31.
When is the first frost in Columbus?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 25. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 12 and a 90% chance by November 7.
Can it frost in Columbus 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 24.
What growing zone is Columbus?
Columbus 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 47203. See growing zones in Indiana.
More: all Indiana frost dates · Indiana growing zones · UV index today in Columbus · frost vs. freeze