Frost Dates for 46070 — Summitville, Indiana

Half of springs at Elwood, IN see their last 32°F night by April 24; only one in ten is past it by April 8, and one in ten still has one after May 10. Planting tender crops after May 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 5 20%, and after May 10 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 35% of the 125 Indiana stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 18 in half of years, as early as October 4 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 30; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 30, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 175 days in a typical year, shorter than at 69% of the 125 Indiana stations; it reaches 194 days one year in ten and falls short of 154 one year in ten. On average 128 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 5, and return around October 6. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 10.

July is the warmest month at Elwood, IN, averaging 84°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 34°F and 18°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 31% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,198 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 64% of the 125 Indiana stations. 36% of them (1,147) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 722. Precipitation totals 42.5 inches a year, most in June (5.3") and least in February (2.3"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Muncie Delaware Co Airport, IN, 15 miles southeast of Summitville, has a last frost 8 days earlier (April 16), a first frost 7 days later (October 25), a season 15 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Summitville usually arrives around December 8, and the last of the season around March 11. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Anderson Sewage Plt, IN, 16.2 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 44 days after the last snow.

ZIP 46070 is 11 miles from Elwood, IN, which stands at 866 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 46036 (Elwood). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 46070 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.