Frost dates for Chicago Palwaukee Airport, IL
At Chicago Palwaukee Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 19 and the median first fall frost is Oct 26, for a typical growing season of 190 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 3. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 5b to 6a.
- Apr 19Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 3Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 26First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 190 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 | Apr 16 | Apr 30 | May 15 |
| 32°F | Apr 4 | Apr 19 | May 3 |
| 28°F | Mar 22 | Apr 5 | Apr 20 |
| 24°F | Mar 9 | Mar 25 | Apr 7 |
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 | Oct 1 | Oct 16 | Oct 27 |
| 32°F | Oct 13 | Oct 26 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F | Oct 26 | Nov 7 | Nov 21 |
| 24°F | Nov 4 | Nov 17 | Dec 2 |
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 | 148 days | 167 days | 186 days |
| 32°F | 170 days | 190 days | 207 days |
| 28°F | 194 days | 212 days | 234 days |
| 24°F | 217 days | 237 days | 258 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60090 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 1 km |
| 60070 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 3 km |
| 60062 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 5 km |
| 60004 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 6 km |
| 60015 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 6 km |
| 60026 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 6 km |
| 60056 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 7 km |
| 60089 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 7 km |
| 60069 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 9 km |
| 60074 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 10 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 USW00004838, at 42.1208, -87.9047, elevation 194 m (636 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 24 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 122.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Chicago Botanic Garden (10 km)
- Chicago Ohare Intl Airport (14 km)
- Mundelein 4 WSW (21 km)
- Barrington 3sw (21 km)
- Streamwood (25 km)
- Waukegan (25 km)
- Elgin (32 km)
- Chicago Waukegan Regional Airport (33 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.