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Will it freeze in Cape Girardeau in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Cape Girardeau during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 45°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.
3 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 45°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Fri, Nov 6 35°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 33°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 36°F Frost possible · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 39°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 42°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 43°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 Cape Girardeau
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 4, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport. 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 2 · Apr 17 · May 1 | Oct 2 · Oct 16 · Oct 28 | 181 days |
| 32°F freeze | Mar 19 · Apr 5 · Apr 21 | Oct 12 · Oct 25 · Nov 6 | 201 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 7 · Mar 26 · Apr 11 | Oct 23 · Nov 4 · Nov 21 | 223 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Cape Girardeau Municipal 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 Cape Girardeau, MO come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport (station USW00003935, elevation 336 ft), 5.8 mi from Cape Girardeau. 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 Cape Girardeau
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson, MO | 7.5 mi | Apr 7 | Oct 29 |
| Sikeston, MO | 29 mi | Mar 26 | Nov 6 |
| Perryville, MO | 34 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 20 |
| Carbondale, IL | 34 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 22 |
| Murphysboro, IL | 34 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 22 |
| Carterville, IL | 40 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 22 |
| Dexter, MO | 42 mi | Mar 29 | Nov 3 |
| Herrin, IL | 45 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 22 |
| Marion, IL | 45 mi | Apr 9 | Oct 22 |
| Chester, IL | 45 mi | Apr 8 | Oct 30 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Cape Girardeau?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Cape Girardeau is around April 5. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 21, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 19.
When is the first frost in Cape Girardeau?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 25. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 12 and a 90% chance by November 6.
Can it frost in Cape Girardeau 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 17.
What growing zone is Cape Girardeau?
Cape Girardeau is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 0 to 5°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 63701. See growing zones in Missouri.
More: all Missouri frost dates · Missouri growing zones · UV index today in Cape Girardeau · frost vs. freeze