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USDA Hardiness Zone 6a

Frost Dates for 60440 — Bolingbrook, Illinois

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Romeoville WFO, IL (660 ft), 7 miles south.

Updated

In Bolingbrook, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 20 in half of years and has passed by May 6 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 22, as early as October 7 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 184 days (NOAA, Romeoville WFO, IL).

Last spring frost
April 20

50% probability

First fall frost
October 22

50% probability

Growing season
184 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6a

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

First snow
November 30

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 28

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

23 of 23 observed

Snow per year
33.2"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Bolingbrook

Half of springs at Romeoville WFO, IL see their last 32°F night by April 20; only one in ten is past it by April 7, and one in ten still has one after May 6. Planting tender crops after April 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 6 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 22 in half of years, as early as October 7 one year in ten, and holds off past November 3 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 23, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 184 days in a typical year, shorter than at 51% of the 158 Illinois stations; it reaches 202 days one year in ten and falls short of 162 one year in ten. On average 123 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 1, and return around October 12. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 29 and March 9.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Romeoville WFO, IL, 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 60440 →Compare Bolingbrook with another place →

Weather by month in Bolingbrook

July is the warmest month at Romeoville WFO, IL, averaging 85°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°F and 16°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 21% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,305 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 64% of the 158 Illinois stations. 35% of them (1,144) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 763. Precipitation totals 41.3 inches a year, most in May (4.8") and least in February (2.0"); May to September bring 53% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Romeoville WFO, IL
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan32162.2100%281
Feb36202.0100%253
Mar49302.7100%2033
Apr61404.197%5119
May72504.821%<1362
Jun82604.70%0627
Jul85654.50%0763
Aug83634.40%0708
Sep76553.33%0479
Oct64443.785%3181
Nov49322.7100%1528
Dec37222.2100%273

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Romeoville WFO, IL (660 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, Lisle-Morton Arboretum, IL, 8 miles north of Bolingbrook, has a last frost 8 days later (April 28), a first frost 6 days earlier (October 16), a season 15 days shorter.

Frost dates for 60148 (Lombard) →

When it snows in Bolingbrook, Illinois

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Bolingbrook usually arrives around November 30, and the last of the season around March 28. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Romeoville WFO, IL, 6.9 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 23 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 60440

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Bolingbrook, Illinois
WhenWhat to do
February 9 – February 23Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 23 – March 9Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 23 – April 6Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 20 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 60440 is 7 miles from Romeoville WFO, IL, which stands at 660 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 7 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 60440 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 Illinois →

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 Illinois