Frost Dates for 60110 — Carpentersville, Illinois

Half of springs at Elgin, IL see their last 32°F night by April 26; only one in ten is past it by April 12, and one in ten still has one after May 12. Planting tender crops after May 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 5 20%, and after May 12 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 22% of the 158 Illinois stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 18 in half of years, as early as October 3 one year in ten, and holds off past October 31 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 29; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 29, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 174 days in a typical year, shorter than at 76% of the 158 Illinois stations; it reaches 193 days one year in ten and falls short of 152 one year in ten. On average 139 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 6, and return around October 7. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 27 and March 13.

July is the warmest month at Elgin, IL, averaging 84°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 30°F and 14°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October 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 33% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,994 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 85% of the 158 Illinois stations. 33% of them (989) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 733. Precipitation totals 39.9 inches a year, most in May (5.1") and least in February (1.9"); May to September bring 54% of it.

The nearest other station, Barrington 3SW, IL, 6 miles east of Carpentersville, has a last frost 1 day earlier (April 25), a first frost 1 day later (October 19), a season 3 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Carpentersville usually arrives around December 2, and the last of the season around March 25. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Elgin, IL, 4.1 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 32 days after the last snow.

ZIP 60110 is 4 miles from Elgin, IL, which stands at 763 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 7 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 60120 (Elgin). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 60110 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.