Frost Dates for 60013 — Cary, Illinois

Half of springs at Mc Henry -Wg Stratton L&D, IL see their last 32°F night by May 1; only one in ten is past it by April 16, and one in ten still has one after May 19. Planting tender crops after May 8 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 13 20%, and after May 19 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 92% of the 158 Illinois stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 11 in half of years, as early as September 27 one year in ten, and holds off past October 24 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 22; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 6, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 162 days in a typical year, shorter than at 97% of the 158 Illinois stations; it reaches 181 days one year in ten and falls short of 142 one year in ten. On average 144 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 12, and return around October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 24 and March 17.

July is the warmest month at Mc Henry -Wg Stratton L&D, IL, averaging 84°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 31°F and 13°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 51% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,891 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 89% of the 158 Illinois stations. 33% of them (961) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 708. Precipitation totals 37.0 inches a year, most in June (4.8") and least in February (1.6"); May to September bring 55% of it.

The nearest other station, Barrington 3SW, IL, 8 miles southeast of Cary, has a last frost 6 days earlier (April 25), a first frost 8 days later (October 19), a season 15 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Cary usually arrives around November 24, and the last of the season around March 24. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Mc Henry -Wg Stratton L&D, IL, 6.4 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 38 days after the last snow.

ZIP 60013 is 6 miles from Mc Henry -Wg Stratton L&D, IL, which stands at 736 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 60050 (Mchenry). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 60013 in zone 5b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -15 to -10°F (-26.1 to -23.3°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.