Frost dates for South Bend Michiana Regional Airport, IN
At South Bend Michiana Regional Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 1 and the median first fall frost is Oct 19, for a typical growing season of 170 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 17. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6a.
- May 1Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 17Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 19First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 170 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 27 | May 11 | May 27 |
| 32°F | Apr 16 | May 1 | May 17 |
| 28°F | Apr 4 | Apr 19 | May 5 |
| 24°F | Mar 26 | Apr 7 | Apr 21 |
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 7 | Oct 19 |
| 32°F | Oct 5 | Oct 19 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F | Oct 19 | Oct 31 | Nov 13 |
| 24°F | Nov 1 | Nov 12 | Nov 29 |
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 | 127 days | 148 days | 167 days |
| 32°F | 149 days | 170 days | 189 days |
| 28°F | 171 days | 193 days | 212 days |
| 24°F | 198 days | 218 days | 238 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46628 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 1 km |
| 46619 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 6 km |
| 46552 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 14 km |
| 49113 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 19 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 USW00014848, at 41.7072, -86.3164, elevation 236 m (773 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 126.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- S Bend (6 km)
- Lakeville (20 km)
- Laporte (36 km)
- Goshen 3sw (40 km)
- Plymouth (41 km)
- Goshen Muni Airport (48 km)
- Knox Wastewater Plant (52 km)
- Wanatah 2 WNW (59 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.