Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Mishawaka, Indiana

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at S Bend, 4.6 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 23
First fall frostOct 23
181 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 231 year in 10 after May 9
First fall frostOct 231 year in 10 by Oct 9
Growing season181 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6a−10 to −5°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Mishawaka 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 38°F. Above 36°F.

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

4 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 Mishawaka

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 3, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at S Bend. 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 3 · May 18 Sep 28 · Oct 12 · Oct 24 161 days
32°F freeze Apr 11 · Apr 23 · May 9 Oct 9 · Oct 23 · Nov 5 181 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 30 · Apr 12 · Apr 28 Oct 21 · Nov 3 · Nov 21 205 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00128437. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at S Bend

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 Mishawaka, IN come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: S Bend (station USC00128437, elevation 710 ft), 4.6 mi from Mishawaka. 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 Mishawaka

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
South Bend, IN 5.6 mi Apr 23 Oct 23
Elkhart, IN 11 mi Apr 26 Oct 21
Niles, MI 12 mi Apr 27 Oct 25
Nappanee, IN 18 mi Apr 26 Oct 21
Goshen, IN 19 mi Apr 26 Oct 21
Dowagiac, MI 21 mi May 4 Oct 11
Plymouth, IN 24 mi Apr 25 Oct 21
La Porte, IN 29 mi Apr 19 Oct 27
Three Rivers, MI 34 mi Apr 30 Oct 17
Benton Harbor, MI 34 mi May 5 Oct 15

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Mishawaka?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Mishawaka is around April 23. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 9, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 11.

When is the first frost in Mishawaka?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 23. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 9 and a 90% chance by November 5.

Can it frost in Mishawaka 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 3.

What growing zone is Mishawaka?

Mishawaka 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 46545. See growing zones in Indiana.

More: all Indiana frost dates · Indiana growing zones · UV index today in Mishawaka · frost vs. freeze