Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for West Lafayette, Indiana

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Lafayette Purdue University Airport, 2.3 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 26
First fall frostOct 18
173 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 261 year in 10 after May 14
First fall frostOct 181 year in 10 by Oct 4
Growing season173 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6a−10 to −5°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in West Lafayette 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 44°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.

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 West Lafayette

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 28, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Lafayette Purdue University Airport. 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 22 · May 7 · May 22 Sep 24 · Oct 7 · Oct 20 152 days
32°F freeze Apr 11 · Apr 26 · May 14 Oct 4 · Oct 18 · Oct 31 173 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 30 · Apr 13 · May 1 Oct 15 · Oct 28 · Nov 10 196 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014835. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Lafayette Purdue University Airport

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 West Lafayette, IN come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Lafayette Purdue University Airport (station USW00014835, elevation 599 ft), 2.3 mi from West Lafayette. 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 West Lafayette

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Lafayette, IN 4.3 mi Apr 26 Oct 18
Monticello, IN 22 mi Apr 22 Oct 17
Frankfort, IN 23 mi Apr 21 Oct 21
Crawfordsville, IN 28 mi Apr 27 Oct 12
Logansport, IN 37 mi Apr 20 Oct 23
Rensselaer, IN 37 mi Apr 23 Oct 18
Lebanon, IN 37 mi Apr 21 Oct 20
Danville, IL 42 mi Apr 21 Oct 20
Kokomo, IN 42 mi Apr 27 Oct 18
Sheridan, IN 43 mi Apr 23 Oct 17

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in West Lafayette?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in West Lafayette is around April 26. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 14, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 11.

When is the first frost in West Lafayette?

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 October 31.

Can it frost in West Lafayette 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 7.

What growing zone is West Lafayette?

West Lafayette 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 47907. See growing zones in Indiana.

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