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USDA Hardiness Zone 6a

Frost Dates for 62681 — Rushville, Illinois

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Rushville, IL (673 ft), under a mile southwest.

Updated

In Rushville, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 16 in half of years and has passed by May 3 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 23, as early as October 10 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 189 days (NOAA, Rushville, IL).

Last spring frost
April 16

50% probability

First fall frost
October 23

50% probability

Growing season
189 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6a

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

First snow
December 14

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
February 26

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
88%

21 of 24 observed

Snow per year
—

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Rushville

Half of springs at Rushville, IL see their last 32°F night by April 16; only one in ten is past it by April 2, and one in ten still has one after May 3. Planting tender crops after April 23 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 28 20%, and after May 3 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 79% of the 158 Illinois stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 23 in half of years, as early as October 10 one year in ten, and holds off past November 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 21, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 189 days in a typical year, longer than at 62% of the 158 Illinois stations; it reaches 208 days one year in ten and falls short of 168 one year in ten. On average 121 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 28, and return around October 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 30 and March 8.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Rushville, 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 62681 →Compare Rushville with another place →

Weather by month in Rushville

July is the warmest month at Rushville, IL, averaging 85°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 33°F and 17°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 14% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,433 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 54% of the 158 Illinois stations. 36% of them (1,223) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 770. Precipitation totals 40.9 inches a year, most in May (5.3") and least in January (1.8"); May to September bring 54% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Rushville, IL
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan33171.8100%281
Feb38212.1100%245
Mar50312.699%1943
Apr62423.993%4146
May72525.314%<1389
Jun81625.00%0639
Jul85654.00%0770
Aug83633.80%0718
Sep77553.92%0487
Oct65443.483%3195
Nov50332.7100%1637
Dec39232.4100%264

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Rushville, IL (673 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, Golden, IL, 25 miles west of Rushville, has a last frost 2 days later (April 18), a first frost 2 days earlier (October 21), a season 2 days shorter.

Frost dates for 62320 (Camp Point) →

When it snows in Rushville, Illinois

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Rushville usually arrives around December 14, and the last of the season around February 26. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Rushville, IL, 0.6 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 88% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 49 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 62681

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Rushville, Illinois
WhenWhat to do
February 5 – February 19Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 19 – March 5Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 19 – April 2Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 16 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 31Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 9Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 23 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 62681 is under a mile from Rushville, IL, which stands at 673 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 62618 (Beardstown). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 62681 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