Frost Dates for 46516 — Elkhart, Indiana

Half of springs at Goshen 3SW, IN see their last 32°F night by April 26; only one in ten is past it by April 13, and one in ten still has one after May 12. Planting tender crops after May 3 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 7 20%, and after May 12 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 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 May 1, 11 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 195 days one year in ten and falls short of 153 one year in ten. On average 125 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 6, and return around October 7. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 2 and March 14.

July is the warmest month at Goshen 3SW, IN, averaging 83°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°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 35% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,093 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 74% of the 125 Indiana stations. 35% of them (1,084) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 715. Precipitation totals 39.9 inches a year, most in May (4.3") and least in February (2.3"); May to September bring 50% of it.

The nearest other station, Goshen Municipal Airport, IN, 14 miles southeast of Elkhart, has a last frost 2 days later (April 28), a first frost 2 days earlier (October 19), a season 4 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Elkhart usually arrives around November 23, and the last of the season around March 17. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Elkhart Pub Wks & Ut, IN, 2.2 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 40 days after the last snow.

ZIP 46516 is 9 miles from Goshen 3SW, IN, which stands at 875 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 46514 (Elkhart). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 46516 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.