Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Elwood, Indiana

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Elwood, 1.0 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 24
First fall frostOct 18
175 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 241 year in 10 after May 10
First fall frostOct 181 year in 10 by Oct 4
Growing season175 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6a−10 to −5°F average extreme low

Checking current alerts… View NWS forecast and alerts.

Will it freeze in Elwood in the next 7 nights?

The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Sat, Nov 7: 30°F (Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 PM EST to Sun, Nov 8, 6:00 AM EST).

Tonight: forecast low 43°F. Above 36°F.

NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST.

5 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 Elwood

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 30, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Elwood. 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 20 · May 5 · May 19 Sep 23 · Oct 6 · Oct 21 154 days
32°F freeze Apr 8 · Apr 24 · May 10 Oct 4 · Oct 18 · Nov 1 175 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 28 · Apr 12 · Apr 30 Oct 15 · Oct 30 · Nov 12 199 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00122638. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Elwood

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 Elwood, IN come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Elwood (station USC00122638, elevation 866 ft), 1.0 mi from Elwood. 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 Elwood

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Alexandria, IN 8.7 mi Apr 24 Oct 18
Tipton, IN 11 mi Apr 23 Oct 17
Cicero, IN 15 mi Apr 23 Oct 17
Anderson, IN 15 mi Apr 19 Oct 23
Yorktown, IN 19 mi Apr 16 Oct 25
Noblesville, IN 19 mi Apr 21 Oct 21
Pendleton, IN 19 mi Apr 19 Oct 23
Gas City, IN 20 mi Apr 26 Oct 20
Sheridan, IN 20 mi Apr 23 Oct 17
Kokomo, IN 21 mi Apr 27 Oct 18

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Elwood?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Elwood is around April 24. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 10, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 8.

When is the first frost in Elwood?

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 November 1.

Can it frost in Elwood 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 5.

What growing zone is Elwood?

Elwood 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 46036. See growing zones in Indiana.

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