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USDA Hardiness Zone 6a

Frost Dates for 46234 — Indianapolis, Indiana

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Indianapolis Eagle Creek Airport, IN (823 ft), 2 miles northeast.

Updated

In Indianapolis, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 12 in half of years and has passed by April 29 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 29, as early as October 16 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 198 days (NOAA, Indianapolis Eagle Creek Airport, IN).

Last spring frost
April 12

50% probability

First fall frost
October 29

50% probability

Growing season
198 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6a

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

First snow
November 24

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 13

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

30 of 30 observed

Snow per year
25.5"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Indianapolis

Half of springs at Indianapolis Eagle Creek Airport, IN see their last 32°F night by April 12; only one in ten is past it by March 30, and one in ten still has one after April 29. Planting tender crops after April 19 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 22 20%, and after April 29 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 29 in half of years, as early as October 16 one year in ten, and holds off past November 10 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around November 6; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 17, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 198 days in a typical year, longer than at 86% of the 125 Indiana stations; it reaches 217 days one year in ten and falls short of 177 one year in ten. On average 106 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 April 23, and return around October 18. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 9 and March 1.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Indianapolis Eagle Creek Airport, 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 46234 →Compare Indianapolis with another place →

Weather by month in Indianapolis

July is the warmest month at Indianapolis Eagle Creek Airport, IN, averaging 85°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 36°F and 21°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 85% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,703 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 70% of the 125 Indiana stations. 36% of them (1,348) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 804. Precipitation totals 40.9 inches a year, most in June (5.1") and least in February (2.1"); May to September bring 48% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Indianapolis Eagle Creek Airport, IN
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan36212.6100%264
Feb41242.1100%238
Mar52333.3100%1654
Apr64434.185%3176
May74544.38%0430
Jun82635.10%0676
Jul85674.30%0804
Aug84653.20%0755
Sep78572.60%0529
Oct66453.362%2214
Nov52353.3100%1344
Dec41262.7100%238

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Indianapolis Eagle Creek Airport, IN (823 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, IN, 7 miles south of Indianapolis, has a last frost 3 days later (April 15), a first frost 3 days earlier (October 26), a season 5 days shorter.

Frost dates for 46241 (Indianapolis) →

When it snows in Indianapolis, Indiana

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Indianapolis usually arrives around November 24, and the last of the season around March 13. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Indianapolis, IN, 6.7 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 30 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 46234

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Indianapolis, Indiana
WhenWhat to do
February 1 – February 15Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 15 – March 1Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 15 – March 29Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 12 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 6Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 15Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 29 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 46234 is 2 miles from Indianapolis Eagle Creek Airport, IN, which stands at 823 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 10 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 46112 (Brownsburg). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 46234 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