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USDA Hardiness Zone 6b

Frost Dates for 47459 — Solsberry, Indiana

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Bloomington Monroe Co Airport, IN (844 ft), 7 miles east.

Updated

In Solsberry, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 17 in half of years and has passed by May 5 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 22, as early as October 8 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 185 days (NOAA, Bloomington Monroe Co Airport, IN).

Last spring frost
April 17

50% probability

First fall frost
October 22

50% probability

Growing season
185 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6b

-5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) coldest night

First snow
December 15

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
February 28

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

27 of 27 observed

Snow per year
8.9"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Solsberry

Half of springs at Bloomington Monroe Co Airport, IN see their last 32°F night by April 17; only one in ten is past it by April 3, and one in ten still has one after May 5. Planting tender crops after April 24 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 28 20%, and after May 5 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 84% of the 125 Indiana stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 22 in half of years, as early as October 8 one year in ten, and holds off past November 2 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 21, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 185 days in a typical year, longer than at 58% of the 125 Indiana stations; it reaches 205 days one year in ten and falls short of 163 one year in ten. On average 108 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 13 days longer, to about April 30, and return around October 11. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 4 and March 3.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Bloomington Monroe Co 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 47459 →Compare Solsberry with another place →

Weather by month in Solsberry

July is the warmest month at Bloomington Monroe Co Airport, IN, averaging 85°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 39°F and 22°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 16% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,622 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 64% of the 125 Indiana stations. 38% of them (1,366) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 764. Precipitation totals 46.9 inches a year, most in June (5.1") and least in February (2.7"); May to September bring 46% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Bloomington Monroe Co Airport, IN
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan39223.4100%257
Feb43252.7100%2312
Mar54333.8100%1661
Apr66434.992%4194
May74534.516%<1432
Jun82625.10%0661
Jul85644.90%0764
Aug84623.30%0724
Sep78553.62%0495
Oct67443.785%4210
Nov53343.7100%1450
Dec42273.3100%2312

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Bloomington Monroe Co Airport, IN (844 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, Spencer, IN, 12 miles north of Solsberry and 295 feet lower, has a last frost 3 days later (April 20), a first frost 2 days earlier (October 20), a season 5 days shorter.

Frost dates for 47460 (Spencer) →

When it snows in Solsberry, Indiana

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Solsberry usually arrives around December 15, and the last of the season around February 28. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Elliston, IN, 11.5 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 48 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 47459

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Solsberry, Indiana
WhenWhat to do
February 6 – February 20Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 20 – March 6Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 20 – April 3Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 17 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 30Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 8Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 22 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 47459 is 7 miles from Bloomington Monroe Co Airport, IN, which stands at 844 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 47403 (Bloomington). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 47459 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°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 6b places in Indiana