Frost dates for Rantoul, IL
At Rantoul, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 21 and the median first fall frost is Oct 18, for a typical growing season of 179 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 6. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6a.
- Apr 21Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 6Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 18First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 179 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 18 | Apr 30 | May 17 |
| 32°F | Apr 7 | Apr 21 | May 6 |
| 28°F | Mar 30 | Apr 10 | Apr 26 |
| 24°F | Mar 15 | Apr 1 | Apr 17 |
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 26 | Oct 8 | Oct 20 |
| 32°F | Oct 5 | Oct 18 | Oct 31 |
| 28°F | Oct 16 | Oct 29 | Nov 12 |
| 24°F | Oct 26 | Nov 7 | Nov 23 |
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 | 139 days | 159 days | 177 days |
| 32°F | 159 days | 179 days | 197 days |
| 28°F | 179 days | 199 days | 220 days |
| 24°F | 201 days | 222 days | 244 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61866 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 0 km |
| 61878 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 8 km |
| 60949 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 9 km |
| 61840 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 12 km |
| 61847 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 13 km |
| 61862 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 17 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 USW00014806, at 40.3131, -88.1594, elevation 226 m (740 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 25 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 130.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Paxton 2 WSW (16 km)
- Gibson City (25 km)
- Champaign 3s (26 km)
- Ogden (28 km)
- Champaign Willard Airport (32 km)
- Champaign 9 SW (34 km)
- Hoopeston (44 km)
- Danville (48 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.