Skip to content

USDA Hardiness Zone 6a

Frost Dates for 46933 — Gas City, Indiana

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Marion 2 N, IN (790 ft), 7 miles northwest.

Updated

In Gas City, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 26 in half of years and has passed by May 12 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 20, as early as October 5 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 175 days (NOAA, Marion 2 N, IN).

Last spring frost
April 26

50% probability

First fall frost
October 20

50% probability

Growing season
175 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6a

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

First snow
December 4

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 14

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
97%

29 of 30 observed

Snow per year
24.5"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Gas City

Half of springs at Marion 2 N, IN see their last 32°F night by April 26; only one in ten is past it by April 11, 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 20 in half of years, as early as October 5 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 November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 30, 12 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 154 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 11 days longer, to about May 7, and return around October 9. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 12.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Marion 2 N, 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 46933 →Compare Gas City with another place →

Weather by month in Gas City

July is the warmest month at Marion 2 N, IN, averaging 84°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 33°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 36% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,119 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 69% of the 125 Indiana stations. 35% of them (1,090) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 718. Precipitation totals 41.9 inches a year, most in May (4.8") and least in February (2.2"); May to September bring 50% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Marion 2 N, IN
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan33182.9100%272
Feb37202.2100%242
Mar48282.9100%2130
Apr61384.198%8112
May72494.836%1343
Jun81594.40%0600
Jul84634.30%0718
Aug82613.90%0659
Sep77533.45%<1451
Oct64423.186%4168
Nov50323.3100%1730
Dec38232.6100%254

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Marion 2 N, IN (790 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, Hartford City 4 ESE, IN, 17 miles east of Gas City, has a last frost 4 days earlier (April 22), a first frost 2 days later (October 22), a season 6 days longer.

Frost dates for 47348 (Hartford City) →

When it snows in Gas City, Indiana

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Gas City usually arrives around December 4, and the last of the season around March 14. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Marion 2 N, IN, 7 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 97% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 43 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 46933

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Gas City, Indiana
WhenWhat to do
February 15 – March 1Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 1 – March 15Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 29 – April 12Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 26 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 28Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 6Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 20 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 46933 is 7 miles from Marion 2 N, IN, which stands at 790 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 46953 (Marion). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 46933 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