Frost dates for Frankfort Capital City Airport, KY
At Frankfort Capital City Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 15 and the median first fall frost is Oct 24, for a typical growing season of 192 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 5. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6b.
- Apr 15Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 5Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 24First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 192 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 12 | Apr 26 | May 13 |
| 32°F | Mar 31 | Apr 15 | May 5 |
| 28°F | Mar 16 | Apr 3 | Apr 22 |
| 24°F | Mar 2 | Mar 22 | Apr 6 |
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 3 | Oct 15 | Oct 26 |
| 32°F | Oct 13 | Oct 24 | Nov 5 |
| 28°F | Oct 23 | Nov 4 | Nov 17 |
| 24°F | Nov 1 | Nov 15 | Dec 3 |
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 | 189 days |
| 32°F | 169 days | 192 days | 211 days |
| 28°F | 193 days | 215 days | 238 days |
| 24°F | 217 days | 240 days | 267 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40601 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 6 km |
| 40003 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 16 km |
| 40342 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 21 km |
| 40379 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 23 km |
| 40036 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 26 km |
| 40007 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 32 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 USW00053841, at 38.1847, -84.9033, elevation 245 m (804 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 24 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 98.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Versailles 3 NNW (17 km)
- Shelbyville 1 E (26 km)
- Lexington Bluegrass Airport (31 km)
- Taylorsville Lake (41 km)
- Dix Dam (48 km)
- Crestwood 4ne (49 km)
- Cynthiana (57 km)
- Bardstown 5e (59 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.