Frost dates for Elkton, KY
At Elkton, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 3 and the median first fall frost is Oct 29, for a typical growing season of 207 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 21. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 7a.
- Apr 3Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 21Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 29First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 207 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 1 | Apr 15 | May 2 |
| 32°F | Mar 18 | Apr 3 | Apr 21 |
| 28°F | Mar 4 | Mar 25 | Apr 9 |
| 24°F | Feb 21 | Mar 12 | Mar 29 |
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 | Oct 8 | Oct 19 | Oct 30 |
| 32°F | Oct 17 | Oct 29 | Nov 11 |
| 28°F | Oct 27 | Nov 8 | Nov 26 |
| 24°F | Nov 5 | Nov 20 | Dec 6 |
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 | 165 days | 186 days | 205 days |
| 32°F | 188 days | 207 days | 227 days |
| 28°F | 208 days | 230 days | 252 days |
| 24°F | 229 days | 252 days | 277 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42234 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 10 km |
| 42220 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 12 km |
| 42204 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 14 km |
| 42286 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 14 km |
| 42265 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 15 km |
| 42280 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 17 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 USC00152548, at 36.8078, -87.1531, elevation 189 m (619 ft).
- Data quality: Estimated from nearby stations (2+ years), 7 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 87.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Russellville (24 km)
- Hopkinsville (33 km)
- Rochester Ferry (51 km)
- Bowling Green Warren Co Airport (67 km)
- Madisonville (68 km)
- Princeton 1 SE (73 km)
- Beaver Dam (75 km)
- Calhoun Lock 2 (81 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.