Frost dates for Mount Sterling, KY
At Mount Sterling, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 24 and the median first fall frost is Oct 18, for a typical growing season of 175 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 12. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 6b to 7a.
- Apr 24Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 12Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 18First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 175 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 21 | May 5 | May 21 |
| 32°F | Apr 9 | Apr 24 | May 12 |
| 28°F | Mar 28 | Apr 13 | Apr 29 |
| 24°F | Mar 15 | Apr 1 | Apr 18 |
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 26 | Oct 8 | Oct 20 |
| 32°F | Oct 6 | Oct 18 | Oct 29 |
| 28°F | Oct 15 | Oct 28 | Nov 10 |
| 24°F | Oct 26 | Nov 7 | Nov 23 |
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 | 135 days | 156 days | 174 days |
| 32°F | 155 days | 175 days | 195 days |
| 28°F | 177 days | 198 days | 220 days |
| 24°F | 200 days | 221 days | 243 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40353 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 2 km |
| 40334 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 17 km |
| 40374 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 18 km |
| 40357 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 18 km |
| 40346 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 18 km |
| 40360 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 19 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 USC00155640, at 38.0583, -83.9333, elevation 293 m (960 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 21 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 116.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Stanton 2w (22 km)
- Cressy (27 km)
- Cave Run Lake (36 km)
- Flemingsburg 2 N (47 km)
- Cynthiana (48 km)
- Eastern Kentucky Univ (49 km)
- Beattyville 4n (51 km)
- W Liberty 3nw (57 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.