Frost dates for Columbus, IN
At Columbus, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 11 and the median first fall frost is Oct 25, for a typical growing season of 195 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 30. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6b.
- Apr 11Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 30Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 25First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 195 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 10 | Apr 24 | May 10 |
| 32°F | Mar 31 | Apr 11 | Apr 30 |
| 28°F | Mar 16 | Apr 1 | Apr 14 |
| 24°F | Mar 4 | Mar 21 | Apr 4 |
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 4 | Oct 15 | Oct 27 |
| 32°F | Oct 12 | Oct 25 | Nov 7 |
| 28°F | Oct 24 | Nov 5 | Nov 22 |
| 24°F | Nov 2 | Nov 17 | Dec 5 |
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 | 152 days | 172 days | 190 days |
| 32°F | 173 days | 195 days | 213 days |
| 28°F | 198 days | 218 days | 240 days |
| 24°F | 220 days | 241 days | 265 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 47201 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 7 km |
| 47203 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 11 km |
| 47232 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 13 km |
| 47226 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 14 km |
| 47280 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 15 km |
| 47236 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 17 km |
| 47244 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 20 km |
| 47246 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 20 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 USC00121747, at 39.1661, -85.9228, elevation 186 m (609 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 108.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Seymour 2 N (21 km)
- N Vernon 2 ESE (33 km)
- Franklin Wastewater Plant (35 km)
- Shelbyville Sewage Plant (42 km)
- Greensburg (42 km)
- Shelbyville Muni Airport (47 km)
- Bloomington Indiana Univ (52 km)
- Martinsville 2 SW (53 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.