Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Atchison, Kansas

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Atchison, 1.6 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 11
First fall frostOct 29
199 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 111 year in 10 after Apr 23
First fall frostOct 291 year in 10 by Oct 15
Growing season199 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6a−10 to −5°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Atchison in the next 7 nights?

The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Fri, Nov 6: 31°F (Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 PM CST to Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 AM CST).

Tonight: forecast low 38°F. Above 36°F.

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

2 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 Atchison

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 5, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Atchison. 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 7 · Apr 21 · May 3 Oct 2 · Oct 20 · Oct 31 180 days
32°F freeze Mar 29 · Apr 11 · Apr 23 Oct 15 · Oct 29 · Nov 10 199 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 15 · Apr 1 · Apr 14 Oct 22 · Nov 5 · Nov 21 218 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00140405. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Atchison

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 Atchison, KS come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Atchison (station USC00140405, elevation 945 ft), 1.6 mi from Atchison. 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 Atchison

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Leavenworth, KS 20 mi Apr 12 Oct 27
St. Joseph, MO 22 mi Apr 19 Oct 17
Lansing, KS 25 mi Apr 19 Oct 19
Savannah, MO 30 mi Apr 17 Oct 19
Basehor, KS 32 mi Apr 16 Oct 22
Tonganoxie, KS 32 mi Apr 21 Oct 17
Smithville, MO 32 mi Apr 18 Oct 20
Parkville, MO 34 mi Apr 13 Oct 24
Bonner Springs, KS 37 mi Apr 16 Oct 22
Kansas City, KS 37 mi Apr 4 Nov 2

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Atchison?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Atchison is around April 11. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 23, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 29.

When is the first frost in Atchison?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 29. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 15 and a 90% chance by November 10.

Can it frost in Atchison 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 April 21.

What growing zone is Atchison?

Atchison 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 66002. See growing zones in Kansas.

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