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USDA Hardiness Zone 6b

Frost Dates for 62895 — Wayne City, Illinois

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Fairfield Radio Wfiw, IL (430 ft), 14 miles east.

Updated

In Wayne City, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 7 in half of years and has passed by April 23 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 26, as early as October 14 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 201 days (NOAA, Fairfield Radio Wfiw, IL).

Last spring frost
April 7

50% probability

First fall frost
October 26

50% probability

Growing season
201 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6b

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

First snow
December 11

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
February 25

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

20 of 20 observed

Snow per year
—

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Wayne City

Half of springs at Fairfield Radio Wfiw, IL see their last 32°F night by April 7; only one in ten is past it by March 23, and one in ten still has one after April 23. Planting tender crops after April 13 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 18 20%, and after April 23 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 26 in half of years, as early as October 14 one year in ten, and holds off past November 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 6; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 11, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 201 days in a typical year, longer than at 88% of the 158 Illinois stations; it reaches 220 days one year in ten and falls short of 179 one year in ten. On average 99 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 19, and return around October 17. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 9 and February 26.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Fairfield Radio Wfiw, 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 62895 →Compare Wayne City with another place →

Weather by month in Wayne City

July is the warmest month at Fairfield Radio Wfiw, IL, averaging 90°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 41°F and 25°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 69% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,412 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 98% of the 158 Illinois stations. 38% of them (1,684) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 890. Precipitation totals 45.9 inches a year, most in April (5.0") and least in February (2.7"); May to September bring 43% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Fairfield Radio Wfiw, IL
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan41253.3100%259
Feb47282.7100%2019
Mar57364.299%1491
Apr69475.069%3269
May78565.04%<1528
Jun87644.70%0768
Jul90683.80%0890
Aug89663.50%0843
Sep83582.90%<1608
Oct71473.770%3297
Nov56363.8100%1375
Dec45293.3100%2115

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Fairfield Radio Wfiw, IL (430 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, Mt Vernon 3 NE, IL, 15 miles west of Wayne City, has a last frost 4 days later (April 11), a first frost 4 days earlier (October 22), a season 8 days shorter.

Frost dates for 62864 (Mount Vernon) →

When it snows in Wayne City, Illinois

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Wayne City usually arrives around December 11, and the last of the season around February 25. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Fairfield Radio Wfiw, IL, 14.2 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 41 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 62895

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Wayne City, Illinois
WhenWhat to do
January 27 – February 10Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 10 – February 24Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 10 – March 24Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 7 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 3Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 12Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 26 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 62895 is 14 miles from Fairfield Radio Wfiw, IL, which stands at 430 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 62837 (Fairfield). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 62895 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