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Will it freeze in Rensselaer 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 CST to Sun, Nov 8, 6:00 AM CST).
Tonight: forecast low 41°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.
4 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 41°F Above 36°F · Chance Rain Showers then Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 34°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 30°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 33°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 39°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 36°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- 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 Rensselaer
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 29, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Rensselaer. 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 21 · May 4 · May 19 | Sep 25 · Oct 7 · Oct 20 | 157 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 9 · Apr 23 · May 7 | Oct 4 · Oct 18 · Nov 1 | 177 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 29 · Apr 11 · Apr 27 | Oct 16 · Oct 29 · Nov 11 | 199 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Rensselaer
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 Rensselaer, IN come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Rensselaer (station USC00127298, elevation 630 ft), 2.2 mi from Rensselaer. 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 Rensselaer
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monticello, IN | 25 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 17 |
| Lowell, IN | 27 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 16 |
| Winfield, IN | 32 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 16 |
| Cedar Lake, IN | 33 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 16 |
| Crown Point, IN | 34 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 16 |
| Valparaiso, IN | 37 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 25 |
| West Lafayette, IN | 37 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 18 |
| Merrillville, IN | 37 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 25 |
| St. John, IN | 38 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| Kankakee, IL | 39 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 24 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Rensselaer?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Rensselaer is around April 23. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 7, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 9.
When is the first frost in Rensselaer?
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 Rensselaer 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 Rensselaer?
Rensselaer 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 47978. See growing zones in Indiana.
More: all Indiana frost dates · Indiana growing zones · frost vs. freeze