Frost dates for Emporia Muni Airport, KS
At Emporia Muni Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 12 and the median first fall frost is Oct 23, for a typical growing season of 193 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 27. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6b.
- Apr 12Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 27Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 23First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 193 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 8 | Apr 24 | May 8 |
| 32°F | Mar 29 | Apr 12 | Apr 27 |
| 28°F | Mar 16 | Apr 2 | Apr 18 |
| 24°F | Mar 4 | Mar 22 | 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 | Sep 30 | Oct 14 | Oct 26 |
| 32°F | Oct 9 | Oct 23 | Nov 4 |
| 28°F | Oct 19 | Nov 1 | Nov 16 |
| 24°F | Oct 29 | Nov 10 | 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 | 151 days | 171 days | 191 days |
| 32°F | 171 days | 193 days | 213 days |
| 28°F | 192 days | 213 days | 233 days |
| 24°F | 211 days | 233 days | 256 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 66865 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 15 km |
| 66864 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 18 km |
| 66854 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 20 km |
| 66860 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 23 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 USW00013989, at 38.3306, -96.1897, elevation 368 m (1,209 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 23 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 111.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Emporia 3 NW (11 km)
- Cottonwood Falls (32 km)
- Tallgrass Prairie National Park (34 km)
- John Redmond Lake (39 km)
- Melvern Lake (47 km)
- Council Grove Lake (47 km)
- Osage City (48 km)
- Cassoday 2se (50 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.