Frost dates for Lexington Bluegrass Airport, KY
At Lexington Bluegrass Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 13 and the median first fall frost is Oct 28, for a typical growing season of 196 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 1. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 6b to 7a.
- Apr 13Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 1Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 28First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 196 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
USDA hardiness zone 7a (0 to 5°F) · see all zone 7a frost dates
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 10 | Apr 24 | May 11 |
| 32°F | Mar 30 | Apr 13 | May 1 |
| 28°F | Mar 15 | Mar 31 | Apr 16 |
| 24°F | Feb 28 | Mar 20 | Apr 4 |
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 6 | Oct 19 | Oct 30 |
| 32°F | Oct 16 | Oct 28 | Nov 8 |
| 28°F | Oct 25 | Nov 6 | Nov 22 |
| 24°F | Nov 4 | Nov 17 | Dec 5 |
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 | 156 days | 177 days | 195 days |
| 32°F | 175 days | 196 days | 217 days |
| 28°F | 199 days | 220 days | 241 days |
| 24°F | 221 days | 242 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40513 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 3 km |
| 40510 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 4 km |
| 40504 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 5 km |
| 40514 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 7 km |
| 40503 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 7 km |
| 40508 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 9 km |
| 40536 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 9 km |
| 40507 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 10 km |
| 40502 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 11 km |
| 40339 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 11 km |
| 40517 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 12 km |
| 40505 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 13 km |
| 40511 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 17 km |
| 40509 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 21 km |
| 40516 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 21 km |
| 40324 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 23 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 USW00093820, at 38.0408, -84.6058, elevation 299 m (980 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 90.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Versailles 3 NNW (14 km)
- Dix Dam (30 km)
- Frankfort Capital City Airport (31 km)
- Eastern Kentucky Univ (40 km)
- Danville (46 km)
- Cynthiana (46 km)
- Shelbyville 1 E (55 km)
- Cressy (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.