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Will it freeze in Hays in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Hays during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 33°F. Frost possible.
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.
- Tonight 33°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 33°F Frost possible · Mostly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 41°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 42°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 44°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 44°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 Hays
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 31, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Hays. 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 17 · Apr 30 · May 11 | Sep 28 · Oct 13 · Oct 24 | 165 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 7 · Apr 19 · May 2 | Oct 6 · Oct 22 · Nov 4 | 184 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 24 · Apr 9 · Apr 22 | Oct 16 · Oct 31 · Nov 12 | 205 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Hays
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 Hays, KS come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Hays (station USC00143523, elevation 1,990 ft), 1.1 mi from Hays. 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 Hays
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Bend, KS | 46 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 15 |
| Dodge City, KS | 86 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 20 |
| Pratt, KS | 87 mi | Apr 20 | Oct 20 |
| Salina, KS | 92 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 23 |
| Hutchinson, KS | 95 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 21 |
| McPherson, KS | 96 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 24 |
| Colby, KS | 99 mi | May 2 | Oct 9 |
| Garden City, KS | 104 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 17 |
| Holdrege, NE | 107 mi | May 2 | Oct 11 |
| Abilene, KS | 112 mi | Apr 14 | Oct 23 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Hays?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Hays is around April 19. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 2, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 7.
When is the first frost in Hays?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 22. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 6 and a 90% chance by November 4.
Can it frost in Hays 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 30.
What growing zone is Hays?
Hays is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −5 to 0°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 67601. See growing zones in Kansas.
More: all Kansas frost dates · Kansas growing zones · frost vs. freeze