Frost dates for McPherson, KS
At McPherson, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 18 and the median first fall frost is Oct 24, for a typical growing season of 187 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 1. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6b.
- Apr 18Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 1Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 24First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 187 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 15 | Apr 28 | May 10 |
| 32°F | Apr 4 | Apr 18 | May 1 |
| 28°F | Mar 21 | Apr 6 | Apr 23 |
| 24°F | Mar 10 | Mar 28 | Apr 13 |
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 16 | Oct 29 |
| 32°F | Oct 7 | Oct 24 | Nov 7 |
| 28°F | Oct 17 | Nov 1 | Nov 16 |
| 24°F | Oct 24 | Nov 9 | Nov 27 |
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 | 148 days | 168 days | 189 days |
| 32°F | 165 days | 187 days | 209 days |
| 28°F | 186 days | 207 days | 229 days |
| 24°F | 202 days | 226 days | 250 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 67443 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 7 km |
| 67460 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 8 km |
| 67428 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 17 km |
| 67107 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 21 km |
| 67476 | 6b | -5 to 0°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 USC00145152, at 38.3772, -97.6097, elevation 463 m (1,520 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 21 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
- Kanopolis Lake (40 km)
- Smolan 1ne (41 km)
- Hutchinson Muni Airport (41 km)
- Hutchinson (41 km)
- Newton (45 km)
- Marion Rsvr (47 km)
- Salina Muni Airport (47 km)
- Sterling (55 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.