Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Jefferson City, Missouri

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Jefferson City Water Treatment Plant, 1.3 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 8
First fall frostOct 31
205 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 81 year in 10 after Apr 23
First fall frostOct 311 year in 10 by Oct 17
Growing season205 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6b−5 to 0°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Jefferson City 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 43°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.

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 Jefferson City

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 8, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Jefferson City Water Treatment Plant. 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 4 · Apr 21 · May 4 Oct 7 · Oct 21 · Nov 1 183 days
32°F freeze Mar 23 · Apr 8 · Apr 23 Oct 17 · Oct 31 · Nov 11 205 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 9 · Mar 28 · Apr 13 Oct 28 · Nov 8 · Nov 25 225 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00234271. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Jefferson City Water Treatment Plant

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 Jefferson City, MO come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Jefferson City Water Treatment Plant (station USC00234271, elevation 650 ft), 1.3 mi from Jefferson City. 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 Jefferson City

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Ashland, MO 17 mi Apr 7 Oct 29
Fulton, MO 23 mi Apr 10 Oct 24
Columbia, MO 27 mi Apr 5 Oct 31
Osage Beach, MO 39 mi Mar 31 Nov 3
Boonville, MO 41 mi Apr 12 Oct 25
Mexico, MO 44 mi Apr 11 Oct 25
Rolla, MO 48 mi Apr 5 Nov 1
St. Robert, MO 52 mi Apr 15 Oct 21
Waynesville, MO 52 mi Apr 15 Oct 21
Sedalia, MO 58 mi Apr 18 Oct 22

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Jefferson City?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Jefferson City is around April 8. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 23, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 23.

When is the first frost in Jefferson City?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 31. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 17 and a 90% chance by November 11.

Can it frost in Jefferson City 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 Jefferson City?

Jefferson City 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 65101. See growing zones in Missouri.

More: all Missouri frost dates · Missouri growing zones · UV index today in Jefferson City · frost vs. freeze