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USDA Hardiness Zone 6a

Frost Dates for 46157 — Monrovia, Indiana

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Martinsville 2 SW, IN (592 ft), 12 miles south.

Updated

In Monrovia, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 24 in half of years and has passed by May 11 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 15, as early as October 2 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 173 days (NOAA, Martinsville 2 SW, IN).

Last spring frost
April 24

50% probability

First fall frost
October 15

50% probability

Growing season
173 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6a

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

First snow
December 9

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 6

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

28 of 28 observed

Snow per year
16.7"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Monrovia

Half of springs at Martinsville 2 SW, IN see their last 32°F night by April 24; only one in ten is past it by April 10, and one in ten still has one after May 11. Planting tender crops after May 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 5 20%, and after May 11 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 15 in half of years, as early as October 2 one year in ten, and holds off past October 29 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 26; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 30, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 173 days in a typical year, shorter than at 77% of the 125 Indiana stations; it reaches 191 days one year in ten and falls short of 152 one year in ten. On average 127 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 10 days longer, to about May 4, and return around October 6. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 9.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Martinsville 2 SW, 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 46157 →Compare Monrovia with another place →

Weather by month in Monrovia

July is the warmest month at Martinsville 2 SW, IN, averaging 84°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 36°F and 19°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October 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 3,244 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 60% of the 125 Indiana stations. 36% of them (1,165) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 722. Precipitation totals 45.5 inches a year, most in June (5.3") and least in February (2.4"); May to September bring 47% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Martinsville 2 SW, IN
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan36193.2100%274
Feb41212.4100%245
Mar51293.6100%2039
Apr63404.898%7142
May73505.031%1370
Jun81605.30%0606
Jul84634.10%0722
Aug83613.40%0679
Sep78533.56%<1462
Oct66413.594%6171
Nov52323.6100%1738
Dec41243.1100%247

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Martinsville 2 SW, IN (592 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, Indianapolis Nwfo, IN, 17 miles northeast of Monrovia and 198 feet higher, has a last frost 12 days earlier (April 12), a first frost 12 days later (October 27), a season 23 days longer.

Frost dates for 46168 (Plainfield) →

When it snows in Monrovia, Indiana

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Monrovia usually arrives around December 9, and the last of the season around March 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Martinsville 2 SW, IN, 11.7 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 49 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 46157

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Monrovia, Indiana
WhenWhat to do
February 13 – February 27Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 27 – March 13Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 27 – April 10Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 24 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 23Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 1Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 15 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 46157 is 12 miles from Martinsville 2 SW, IN, which stands at 592 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 46151 (Martinsville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 46157 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