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USDA Hardiness Zone 6a

Frost Dates for 45882 — Rockford, Ohio

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Celina 3 NE, OH (866 ft), 11 miles southeast.

Updated

In Rockford, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 27 in half of years and has passed by May 10 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 19, as early as October 3 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 175 days (NOAA, Celina 3 NE, OH).

Last spring frost
April 27

50% probability

First fall frost
October 19

50% probability

Growing season
175 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6a

-10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) coldest night

First snow
November 30

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 24

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

20 of 20 observed

Snow per year
28.8"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Rockford

Half of springs at Celina 3 NE, OH see their last 32°F night by April 27; only one in ten is past it by April 12, and one in ten still has one after May 10. Planting tender crops after May 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 6 20%, and after May 10 10%. The 13 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 97% of the 148 Ohio stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 19 in half of years, as early as October 3 one year in ten, and holds off past November 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 31; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 2, 8 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 175 days in a typical year, shorter than at 68% of the 148 Ohio stations; it reaches 195 days one year in ten and falls short of 154 one year in ten. On average 116 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 8 days longer, to about May 5, and return around October 5. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 14.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 22Apr 27Apr 30May 2May 5May 7May 10May 15May 20
32°FApr 12Apr 17Apr 20Apr 23Apr 27Apr 29May 2May 6May 10
28°FApr 1Apr 5Apr 9Apr 12Apr 15Apr 18Apr 21Apr 25May 2
24°FMar 18Mar 24Mar 28Mar 31Apr 2Apr 5Apr 9Apr 14Apr 18
20°FMar 7Mar 13Mar 18Mar 20Mar 24Mar 27Mar 30Apr 2Apr 7
16°FFeb 21Mar 1Mar 6Mar 10Mar 14Mar 17Mar 20Mar 24Mar 30
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 22Sep 27Sep 30Oct 3Oct 5Oct 9Oct 12Oct 14Oct 19
32°FOct 3Oct 9Oct 13Oct 16Oct 19Oct 21Oct 24Oct 27Nov 1
28°FOct 17Oct 22Oct 25Oct 28Oct 31Nov 2Nov 5Nov 7Nov 13
24°FOct 29Nov 2Nov 5Nov 7Nov 11Nov 14Nov 17Nov 22Nov 27
20°FNov 7Nov 11Nov 15Nov 18Nov 22Nov 26Nov 29Dec 4Dec 11
16°FNov 13Nov 19Nov 25Nov 28Dec 1Dec 5Dec 9Dec 16Dec 22

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Celina 3 NE, OH, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 45882 →Compare Rockford with another place →

Weather by month in Rockford

July is the warmest month at Celina 3 NE, OH, averaging 84°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 34°F and 19°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 35% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,272 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 55% of the 148 Ohio stations. 36% of them (1,175) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 724. Precipitation totals 40.1 inches a year, most in July (4.6") and least in February (2.3"); May to September bring 49% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Celina 3 NE, OH
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan34192.8100%272
Feb38222.3100%234
Mar49302.9100%1834
Apr63403.999%6137
May73514.135%<1383
Jun81604.40%0616
Jul84634.60%0724
Aug82613.60%0668
Sep77542.87%<1474
Oct65442.988%3192
Nov50333.2100%1436
Dec38242.6100%244

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Celina 3 NE, OH (866 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Van Wert 1 S, OH, 13 miles northeast of Rockford, has a last frost 6 days earlier (April 21), a first frost 7 days later (October 26), a season 12 days longer.

Frost dates for 45891 (Van Wert) →

When it snows in Rockford, Ohio

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Rockford usually arrives around November 30, and the last of the season around March 24. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Celina 3 NE, OH, 10.8 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 34 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 45882

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Rockford, Ohio
WhenWhat to do
February 16 – March 2Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 2 – March 16Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 30 – April 13Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 27 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 27Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 5Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 19 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 45882 is 11 miles from Celina 3 NE, OH, which stands at 866 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 7 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 45822 (Celina). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 45882 in zone 6a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across Ohio →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 6a places in Ohio