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USDA Hardiness Zone 6b

Frost Dates for 47553 — Loogootee, Indiana

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Shoals 8 S, IN (477 ft), 12 miles southeast.

Updated

In Loogootee, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 15 in half of years and has passed by May 2 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 23, as early as October 10 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 189 days (NOAA, Shoals 8 S, IN).

Last spring frost
April 15

50% probability

First fall frost
October 23

50% probability

Growing season
189 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6b

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

First snow
December 14

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 4

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

27 of 27 observed

Snow per year
13.6"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Loogootee

Half of springs at Shoals 8 S, IN see their last 32°F night by April 15; only one in ten is past it by March 31, and one in ten still has one after May 2. Planting tender crops after April 22 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 27 20%, and after May 2 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 23 in half of years, as early as October 10 one year in ten, and holds off past November 4 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 2; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 19, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 189 days in a typical year, longer than at 70% of the 125 Indiana stations; it reaches 210 days one year in ten and falls short of 166 one year in ten. On average 116 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 12 days longer, to about April 27, and return around October 14. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 8 and February 28.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Shoals 8 S, 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 47553 →Compare Loogootee with another place →

Weather by month in Loogootee

July is the warmest month at Shoals 8 S, IN, averaging 88°F by day and 66°F at night; January is the coldest at 41°F and 23°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 88% of years and May still brings one in 13% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,047 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 86% of the 125 Indiana stations. 37% of them (1,515) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 835. Precipitation totals 49.9 inches a year, most in May (6.1") and least in August (3.0"); May to September bring 44% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Shoals 8 S, IN
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan41233.7100%2612
Feb46253.1100%2216
Mar56334.5100%1773
Apr68435.288%6221
May77536.113%<1478
Jun85634.90%0715
Jul88664.30%0835
Aug88643.00%0790
Sep82563.70%0565
Oct70443.580%5255
Nov56354.0100%1671
Dec45283.9100%2316

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Shoals 8 S, IN (477 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, Crane Nsa, IN, 12 miles north of Loogootee and 253 feet higher, has a last frost 6 days earlier (April 9), a first frost 8 days later (October 31), a season 13 days longer.

Frost dates for 47424 (Bloomfield) →

When it snows in Loogootee, Indiana

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Loogootee usually arrives around December 14, and the last of the season around March 4. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Shoals 8 S, IN, 11.8 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 42 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 47553

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Loogootee, Indiana
WhenWhat to do
February 4 – February 18Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 18 – March 4Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 18 – April 1Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 15 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 31Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 9Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 23 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 47553 is 12 miles from Shoals 8 S, IN, which stands at 477 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 47546 (Jasper). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 47553 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