Frost Dates for 46538 — Leesburg, Indiana

Half of springs at Northern Indiana WFO, IN see their last 32°F night by April 24; only one in ten is past it by April 9, 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 24 in half of years, as early as October 12 one year in ten, and holds off past November 6 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 4; 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 182 days in a typical year, longer than at 51% of the 125 Indiana stations; it reaches 201 days one year in ten and falls short of 162 one year in ten. On average 126 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 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 4 and March 12.

July is the warmest month at Northern Indiana WFO, IN, averaging 83°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 31°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 3,027 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 88% of the 125 Indiana stations. 35% of them (1,052) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 702. Precipitation totals 39.9 inches a year, most in June (4.2") and least in January (2.3"); May to September bring 49% of it.

The nearest other station, Warsaw, IN, 6 miles southwest of Leesburg, has a last frost 4 days later (April 28), a first frost 6 days earlier (October 18), a season 12 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Leesburg usually arrives around December 7, and the last of the season around March 12. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Warsaw, IN, 5.8 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.

ZIP 46538 is 5 miles from Northern Indiana WFO, IN, which stands at 951 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 46567 (Syracuse). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 46538 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.