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USDA Hardiness Zone 6a

Frost Dates for 60517 — Woodridge, Illinois

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Lisle-Morton Arboretum, IL (680 ft), 4 miles north.

Updated

In Woodridge, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 28 in half of years and has passed by May 14 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 16, as early as October 1 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 169 days (NOAA, Lisle-Morton Arboretum, IL).

Last spring frost
April 28

50% probability

First fall frost
October 16

50% probability

Growing season
169 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6a

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

First snow
December 3

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 17

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

17 of 17 observed

Snow per year
24.3"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Woodridge

Half of springs at Lisle-Morton Arboretum, IL see their last 32°F night by April 28; only one in ten is past it by April 14, and one in ten still has one after May 14. Planting tender crops after May 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 9 20%, and after May 14 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 16 in half of years, as early as October 1 one year in ten, and holds off past October 29 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 26; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 4, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 169 days in a typical year, shorter than at 90% of the 158 Illinois stations; it reaches 188 days one year in ten and falls short of 148 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 9, and return around October 6. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 28 and March 15.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 25Apr 30May 2May 5May 9May 12May 15May 20May 25
32°FApr 14Apr 18Apr 22Apr 25Apr 28Apr 30May 4May 9May 14
28°FApr 2Apr 7Apr 10Apr 14Apr 16Apr 20Apr 23Apr 28May 4
24°FMar 21Mar 28Mar 31Apr 3Apr 5Apr 8Apr 12Apr 16Apr 21
20°FMar 10Mar 16Mar 20Mar 23Mar 26Mar 30Apr 1Apr 4Apr 9
16°FFeb 28Mar 6Mar 9Mar 12Mar 15Mar 19Mar 22Mar 26Mar 31
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 22Sep 28Oct 1Oct 3Oct 6Oct 8Oct 11Oct 14Oct 18
32°FOct 1Oct 7Oct 11Oct 13Oct 16Oct 18Oct 21Oct 24Oct 29
28°FOct 12Oct 17Oct 20Oct 23Oct 26Oct 29Oct 31Nov 3Nov 8
24°FOct 25Oct 29Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 10Nov 12Nov 16Nov 23
20°FNov 3Nov 8Nov 12Nov 14Nov 17Nov 20Nov 23Nov 27Dec 3
16°FNov 11Nov 16Nov 20Nov 24Nov 28Dec 1Dec 4Dec 8Dec 16

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Lisle-Morton Arboretum, 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 60517 →Compare Woodridge with another place →

Weather by month in Woodridge

July is the warmest month at Lisle-Morton Arboretum, IL, averaging 84°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°F and 15°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 40% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,957 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 87% of the 158 Illinois stations. 33% of them (988) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 716.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Lisle-Morton Arboretum, IL
MonthHigh °FLow °F32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan3215100%291
Feb3518100%262
Mar4726100%2322
Apr5936100%1183
May714740%1301
Jun81580%0579
Jul84620%0716
Aug83600%0665
Sep76527%<1427
Oct634093%7139
Nov4830100%1921
Dec3721100%272

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Lisle-Morton Arboretum, IL (680 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, Little Red School Hse, IL, 9 miles east of Woodridge, has a last frost 9 days earlier (April 19), a first frost 6 days later (October 22), a season 14 days longer.

Frost dates for 60462 (Orland Park) →

When it snows in Woodridge, Illinois

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Woodridge usually arrives around December 3, and the last of the season around March 17. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Wheaton 3 SE, IL, 4.3 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 60517

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Woodridge, Illinois
WhenWhat to do
February 17 – March 3Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 3 – March 17Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 31 – April 14Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 28 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 24Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 2Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 16 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 60517 is 4 miles from Lisle-Morton Arboretum, IL, which stands at 680 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 17 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 60148 (Lombard). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 60517 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