Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Richmond, Indiana

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Richmond Wtr Wks, 1.7 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 24
First fall frostOct 20
180 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 241 year in 10 after May 10
First fall frostOct 201 year in 10 by Oct 7
Growing season180 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6a−10 to −5°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Richmond in the next 7 nights?

The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Sat, Nov 7: 31°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 Richmond

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 30, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Richmond Wtr Wks. 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 19 · May 3 · May 19 Sep 26 · Oct 10 · Oct 22 160 days
32°F freeze Apr 8 · Apr 24 · May 10 Oct 7 · Oct 20 · Nov 1 180 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 26 · Apr 10 · Apr 28 Oct 17 · Oct 30 · Nov 12 202 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00127370. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Richmond Wtr Wks

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 Richmond, IN come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Richmond Wtr Wks (station USC00127370, elevation 1,005 ft), 1.7 mi from Richmond. 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 Richmond

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Eaton, OH 15 mi Apr 25 Oct 20
Connersville, IN 18 mi Apr 27 Oct 9
Greenville, OH 24 mi Apr 21 Oct 20
Oxford, OH 24 mi Apr 19 Oct 22
Brookville, OH 25 mi Apr 16 Oct 28
New Castle, IN 26 mi Apr 27 Oct 17
Clayton, OH 30 mi Apr 16 Oct 28
Trotwood, OH 30 mi Apr 18 Oct 25
Englewood, OH 31 mi Apr 16 Oct 28
Union, OH 31 mi Apr 16 Oct 28

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Richmond?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Richmond 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 Richmond?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 20. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 7 and a 90% chance by November 1.

Can it frost in Richmond 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 Richmond?

Richmond 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 47374. See growing zones in Indiana.

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