Frost dates for Chicago Waukegan Regional Airport, IL
At Chicago Waukegan Regional Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 30 and the median first fall frost is Oct 21, for a typical growing season of 173 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 16. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 5b to 6a.
- Apr 30Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 16Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 21First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 173 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 28 | May 12 | May 27 |
| 32°F | Apr 14 | Apr 30 | May 16 |
| 28°F | Apr 2 | Apr 16 | May 2 |
| 24°F | Mar 20 | Apr 3 | Apr 20 |
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 | Sep 25 | Oct 10 | Oct 22 |
| 32°F | Oct 5 | Oct 21 | Nov 2 |
| 28°F | Oct 15 | Nov 1 | Nov 14 |
| 24°F | Oct 31 | Nov 11 | Nov 25 |
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 | 129 days | 150 days | 170 days |
| 32°F | 152 days | 173 days | 194 days |
| 28°F | 173 days | 197 days | 217 days |
| 24°F | 199 days | 220 days | 241 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60087 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 2 km |
| 60099 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 5 km |
| 60083 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 7 km |
| 60096 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 8 km |
| 60075 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 9 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 USW00014880, at 42.4167, -87.8667, elevation 222 m (727 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 21 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 132.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Waukegan (8 km)
- Lake Villa 2ne (16 km)
- Antioch (20 km)
- Mundelein 4 WSW (25 km)
- Chicago Botanic Garden (31 km)
- Chicago Palwaukee Airport (33 km)
- Mc Henry -Wg Stratton L&d (34 km)
- Barrington 3sw (41 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.