Frost dates for Destin Fort Walton Airport, FL
At Destin Fort Walton Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Feb 5 and the median first fall frost is Dec 28, for a typical growing season of 321 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Mar 4. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 9a to 9b.
- Feb 5Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Mar 4Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Dec 28First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 321 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Jan 30 | Feb 24 | Mar 16 |
| 32°F | Jan 5 | Feb 5 | Mar 4 |
| 28°F | Dec 27 | Jan 27 | Feb 25 |
| 24°F | Dec 27 | Jan 20 | Feb 11 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Nov 15 | Dec 9 | Jan 5 |
| 32°F | Dec 1 | Dec 28 | Jan 27 |
| 28°F | Dec 12 | Jan 7 | Feb 6 |
| 24°F | Dec 20 | Jan 12 | Feb 6 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 261 days | 290 days | 323 days |
| 32°F | 289 days | 321 days | 356 days |
| 28°F | 312 days | 350 days | 365 days |
| 24°F | 333 days | 365 days | 365 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 99% |
| 32°F | 93% |
| 28°F | 67% |
| 24°F | 33% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32541 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 1 km |
| 32579 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 11 km |
| 32548 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 11 km |
| 32550 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 12 km |
| 32544 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 24 km |
| 32459 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 28 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USW00053853, at 30.4000, -86.4717, elevation 7 m (22 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 22 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 6.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Niceville (15 km)
- Crestview Bob Sikes Airport (42 km)
- Chactaw Nolf Milton (48 km)
- De Funiak Springs 1 E (51 km)
- Whiting Field NAS South (63 km)
- Whiting Field NAS (63 km)
- NW Florida Beaches Intl Airport (66 km)
- Pensacola Regional Airport (69 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.