Frost dates for Manhattan 6 SSW, KS
At Manhattan 6 SSW, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 19 and the median first fall frost is Oct 17, 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 zones 6a to 6b.
- Apr 19Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 6Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 17First 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 14 | Apr 30 | May 13 |
| 32°F | Apr 4 | Apr 19 | May 6 |
| 28°F | Mar 24 | Apr 9 | Apr 27 |
| 24°F | Mar 12 | Mar 31 | Apr 16 |
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 1 | Oct 17 | Oct 29 |
| 28°F | Oct 12 | Oct 25 | Nov 7 |
| 24°F | Oct 21 | Nov 3 | Nov 19 |
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 | 141 days | 160 days | 178 days |
| 32°F | 156 days | 179 days | 200 days |
| 28°F | 177 days | 198 days | 219 days |
| 24°F | 196 days | 218 days | 241 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
Closest ZIP codes (each is closer to another station)
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 66517 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 8 km |
| 66502 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 8 km |
| 66506 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 11 km |
| 66442 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 16 km |
| 66503 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 19 km |
| 66441 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 22 km |
| 66514 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 23 km |
| 66535 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 24 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 USW00053974, at 39.1028, -96.6097, elevation 347 m (1,137 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 17 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 118.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Manhattan Muni Airport (7 km)
- Manhattan (11 km)
- Tuttle Creek Lake (16 km)
- Wamego 4 W (24 km)
- Milford Lake (25 km)
- Chapman (38 km)
- Council Grove Lake (48 km)
- Eskridge (51 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.