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USDA Hardiness Zone 6b

Frost Dates for 62417 — Bridgeport, Illinois

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Lawrenceville 2WSW, IL (451 ft), 3 miles east.

Updated

In Bridgeport, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 12 in half of years and has passed by April 30 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 25, as early as October 12 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 193 days (NOAA, Lawrenceville 2WSW, IL).

Last spring frost
April 12

50% probability

First fall frost
October 25

50% probability

Growing season
193 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6b

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

First snow
December 7

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 4

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

23 of 23 observed

Snow per year
15.5"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Bridgeport

Half of springs at Lawrenceville 2WSW, IL see their last 32°F night by April 12; only one in ten is past it by March 31, and one in ten still has one after April 30. Planting tender crops after April 19 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 23 20%, and after April 30 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 25 in half of years, as early as October 12 one year in ten, and holds off past November 5 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 3; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 17, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 193 days in a typical year, longer than at 77% of the 158 Illinois stations; it reaches 213 days one year in ten and falls short of 172 one year in ten. On average 98 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 24, and return around October 16. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 7 and March 1.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Lawrenceville 2WSW, 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 62417 →Compare Bridgeport with another place →

Weather by month in Bridgeport

July is the warmest month at Lawrenceville 2WSW, IL, averaging 88°F by day and 66°F at night; January is the coldest at 39°F and 21°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 89% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,971 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 82% of the 158 Illinois stations. 37% of them (1,476) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 835. Precipitation totals 46.8 inches a year, most in May (5.3") and least in February (2.7"); May to September bring 46% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Lawrenceville 2WSW, IL
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan39213.3100%255
Feb44252.7100%209
Mar55333.6100%1463
Apr67434.489%4201
May77545.39%0473
Jun86635.20%0724
Jul88664.20%0835
Aug87633.10%0781
Sep82563.60%0562
Oct70443.974%2251
Nov55344.1100%1257
Dec44263.4100%229

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Lawrenceville 2WSW, IL (451 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, Vincennes 5 NE, IN, 15 miles east of Bridgeport, has a last frost 1 day earlier (April 11), a first frost 1 day later (October 26), a season 4 days longer.

Frost dates for 47591 (Vincennes) →

When it snows in Bridgeport, Illinois

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Bridgeport usually arrives around December 7, and the last of the season around March 4. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Lawrenceville 2WSW, IL, 2.6 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 39 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 62417

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Bridgeport, Illinois
WhenWhat to do
February 1 – February 15Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 15 – March 1Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 15 – March 29Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 12 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 2Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 11Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 25 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 62417 is 3 miles from Lawrenceville 2WSW, IL, which stands at 451 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 62439 (Lawrenceville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 62417 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 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 6b places in Illinois