Frost dates for Howard, KS
At Howard, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 17 and the median first fall frost is Oct 22, for a typical growing season of 186 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 30. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 6b to 7a.
- Apr 17Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 30Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 22First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 186 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 11 | Apr 27 | May 8 |
| 32°F | Mar 31 | Apr 17 | Apr 30 |
| 28°F | Mar 19 | Apr 4 | Apr 22 |
| 24°F | Mar 8 | Mar 25 | Apr 10 |
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 27 | Oct 12 | Oct 26 |
| 32°F | Oct 6 | Oct 22 | Nov 4 |
| 28°F | Oct 16 | Nov 1 | Nov 14 |
| 24°F | Oct 25 | Nov 8 | 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 | 147 days | 167 days | 186 days |
| 32°F | 165 days | 186 days | 207 days |
| 28°F | 184 days | 206 days | 227 days |
| 24°F | 203 days | 226 days | 251 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 67349 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 3 km |
| 67345 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 12 km |
| 67353 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 18 km |
| 67137 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 19 km |
| 67352 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 22 km |
| 67122 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 22 km |
| 67346 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 22 km |
| 67023 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 31 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 USC00143822, at 37.4664, -96.2714, elevation 308 m (1,010 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 114.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Sedan (38 km)
- Eureka 1e (40 km)
- Fredonia (40 km)
- Smileyberg 1n (54 km)
- Independence (57 km)
- Winfield 3ne (62 km)
- El Dorado (64 km)
- Yates Center (67 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.