Frost dates for Kingston, RI
At Kingston, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 3 and the median first fall frost is Oct 8, for a typical growing season of 159 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 16. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6b.
- May 3Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 16Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 8First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 159 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 30 | May 14 | May 27 |
| 32°F | Apr 21 | May 3 | May 16 |
| 28°F | Apr 6 | Apr 20 | May 5 |
| 24°F | Mar 21 | Apr 4 | Apr 21 |
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 17 | Oct 1 | Oct 11 |
| 32°F | Sep 30 | Oct 8 | Oct 23 |
| 28°F | Oct 5 | Oct 20 | Nov 4 |
| 24°F | Oct 16 | Nov 1 | Nov 17 |
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 | 120 days | 138 days | 156 days |
| 32°F | 142 days | 159 days | 179 days |
| 28°F | 162 days | 183 days | 203 days |
| 24°F | 187 days | 209 days | 230 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02892 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 5 km |
| 02812 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 10 km |
| 02898 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 11 km |
| 02832 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 16 km |
| 02873 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 20 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 USC00374266, at 41.4903, -71.5431, elevation 36 m (117 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 29 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 128.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Kingston 1 NW (0 km)
- Kingston 1 W (1 km)
- Newport Rose (16 km)
- Coventry 2 (20 km)
- Newport State Airport (22 km)
- Westerly State Airport (26 km)
- Providence T F Green Airport (27 km)
- Tiverton (32 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.