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USDA Hardiness Zone 6a

Frost Dates for 46060 — Noblesville, Indiana

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Carmel 3 E, IN (752 ft), 7 miles southwest.

Updated

In Noblesville, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 21 in half of years and has passed by May 8 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 21, as early as October 6 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 183 days (NOAA, Carmel 3 E, IN).

Last spring frost
April 21

50% probability

First fall frost
October 21

50% probability

Growing season
183 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6a

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

First snow
December 7

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 9

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

19 of 19 observed

Snow per year
—

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Noblesville

Half of springs at Carmel 3 E, IN see their last 32°F night by April 21; only one in ten is past it by April 5, and one in ten still has one after May 8. Planting tender crops after April 28 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 2 20%, and after May 8 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 66% of the 125 Indiana stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 21 in half of years, as early as October 6 one year in ten, and holds off past November 2 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 26, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 183 days in a typical year, longer than at 54% of the 125 Indiana stations; it reaches 204 days one year in ten and falls short of 160 one year in ten. On average 122 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 11 days longer, to about May 2, and return around October 11. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 5 and March 7.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 17Apr 22Apr 26Apr 29May 2May 5May 8May 11May 16
32°FApr 5Apr 11Apr 15Apr 18Apr 21Apr 24Apr 28May 2May 8
28°FMar 25Mar 31Apr 2Apr 5Apr 8Apr 12Apr 15Apr 19Apr 26
24°FMar 12Mar 18Mar 22Mar 25Mar 29Mar 31Apr 2Apr 5Apr 12
20°FFeb 28Mar 7Mar 10Mar 14Mar 17Mar 20Mar 24Mar 28Mar 31
16°FFeb 14Feb 22Feb 28Mar 4Mar 7Mar 10Mar 14Mar 18Mar 23
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 28Oct 3Oct 6Oct 9Oct 11Oct 14Oct 17Oct 20Oct 24
32°FOct 6Oct 12Oct 15Oct 19Oct 21Oct 24Oct 26Oct 30Nov 2
28°FOct 18Oct 23Oct 27Oct 30Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 9Nov 17
24°FNov 1Nov 2Nov 6Nov 10Nov 13Nov 17Nov 21Nov 26Dec 1
20°FNov 6Nov 11Nov 16Nov 20Nov 24Nov 28Dec 2Dec 6Dec 13
16°FNov 16Nov 23Nov 28Dec 1Dec 5Dec 9Dec 13Dec 19Dec 25

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Carmel 3 E, IN, 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 46060 →Compare Noblesville with another place →

Weather by month in Noblesville

July is the warmest month at Carmel 3 E, IN, averaging 84°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 35°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 23% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,326 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 52% of the 125 Indiana stations. 35% of them (1,181) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 752. Precipitation totals 44.7 inches a year, most in June (5.5") and least in February (2.2"); May to September bring 50% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Carmel 3 E, IN
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan35192.8100%272
Feb39212.2100%255
Mar49303.4100%2038
Apr62414.395%6139
May72515.023%<1370
Jun81615.50%0628
Jul84644.30%0752
Aug83624.20%0701
Sep77553.54%0476
Oct65433.384%4179
Nov51333.4100%1633
Dec39242.8100%256

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Carmel 3 E, IN (752 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, Castleton 2 S, IN, 12 miles south of Noblesville, has a last frost 3 days earlier (April 18), a first frost 5 days later (October 26), a season 7 days longer.

Frost dates for 46226 (Indianapolis) →

When it snows in Noblesville, Indiana

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Noblesville usually arrives around December 7, and the last of the season around March 9. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Carmel 3 E, IN, 6.9 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 43 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 46060

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Noblesville, Indiana
WhenWhat to do
February 10 – February 24Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 24 – March 10Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 24 – April 7Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 21 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 29Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 7Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 21 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 46060 is 7 miles from Carmel 3 E, IN, which stands at 752 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 46032 (Carmel). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 46060 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 Indiana →

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 Indiana