Ohio frost dates
The typical last spring frost ranges from Apr 8 in Cleveland to Apr 24 in Akron.
6 of the 6 Ohio cities listed have typical frost dates. The longest frost-free season is 217 days in Cleveland; the shortest is 186 days in Akron. For a single address, look up your ZIP code: rural ZIPs use their nearest suitable station.
| City | Last spring frost | 1 in 10 after | First fall frost | 1 in 10 before | Hard freeze (28°F) | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | Apr 24 | May 9 | Oct 28 | Oct 12 | Apr 13 / Nov 7 | 186 days |
| Cincinnati | Apr 16 | May 3 | Oct 25 | Oct 12 | Apr 2 / Nov 4 | 190 days |
| Cleveland | Apr 8 | Apr 20 | Nov 12 | Nov 1 | Apr 1 / Nov 22 | 217 days |
| Columbus | Apr 18 | May 5 | Oct 27 | Oct 14 | Apr 5 / Nov 6 | 191 days |
| Dayton | Apr 18 | May 5 | Oct 25 | Oct 13 | Apr 6 / Nov 4 | 189 days |
| Toledo | Apr 20 | May 7 | Oct 27 | Oct 14 | Apr 8 / Nov 7 | 188 days |
Reading the table: Dayton
In Dayton, the last spring frost typically comes around Apr 18: in half of years it is earlier, in half later. In 1 year in 10 it comes after May 5, 17 days later, so tender plants set out after that date have a 90% chance of escaping frost. In fall, the first frost typically arrives around Oct 25, and in 1 year in 10 before Oct 13. Hard freezes (28°F) usually end earlier in spring and start later in fall: around Apr 6 and Nov 4 in Dayton.
Frost dates at more Ohio weather stations
NOAA stations across Ohio used by our ZIP code lookup, named for the town they are in.
| Station | Elevation | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akron Canton Rgnl Airport | 1,208 ft | Apr 24 (1 in 10 after May 11) | Oct 26 (before Oct 11) |
| Athens Ou | 684 ft | Apr 25 (1 in 10 after May 12) | Oct 23 (before Oct 8) |
| Barnesville | 1,280 ft | Apr 27 (1 in 10 after May 13) | Oct 22 (before Oct 7) |
| Bellefontaine | 1,176 ft | Apr 26 (1 in 10 after May 12) | Oct 20 (before Oct 7) |
| Bowling Green Wwtp | 675 ft | Apr 22 (1 in 10 after May 7) | Oct 25 (before Oct 12) |
| Bucyrus | 955 ft | Apr 19 (1 in 10 after May 6) | Oct 27 (before Oct 14) |
| Cadiz | 1,260 ft | Apr 21 (1 in 10 after May 5) | Oct 25 (before Oct 10) |
| Caldwell 3SE | 880 ft | Apr 30 (1 in 10 after May 20) | Oct 14 (before Sep 30) |
| Cambridge | 800 ft | Apr 28 (1 in 10 after May 15) | Oct 17 (before Oct 3) |
| Celina 3 Ne | 866 ft | Apr 27 (1 in 10 after May 10) | Oct 19 (before Oct 3) |
| Centerburg 2 Se | 1,205 ft | Apr 27 (1 in 10 after May 13) | Oct 17 (before Oct 5) |
| Chardon | 1,130 ft | May 5 (1 in 10 after May 21) | Oct 18 (before Oct 2) |
| Chilo Meldahl Locks & Dam | 480 ft | Apr 16 (1 in 10 after May 4) | Oct 31 (before Oct 17) |
| Chippewa Lake | 1,180 ft | Apr 29 (1 in 10 after May 15) | Oct 19 (before Oct 5) |
| Cincinnati | 1,056 ft | Apr 19 (1 in 10 after May 6) | Oct 22 (before Oct 8) |
| Circleville | 675 ft | Apr 17 (1 in 10 after May 4) | Oct 28 (before Oct 14) |
| Cleveland | 763 ft | Apr 20 (1 in 10 after May 5) | Nov 3 (before Oct 21) |
| Danville 2 W | 970 ft | May 2 (1 in 10 after May 19) | Oct 8 (before Sep 24) |
| Dayton Intl Airport | 1,000 ft | Apr 16 (1 in 10 after May 3) | Oct 28 (before Oct 16) |
| Defiance | 700 ft | Apr 22 (1 in 10 after May 8) | Oct 24 (before Oct 11) |
| Dennison Wtr Wks | 860 ft | Apr 29 (1 in 10 after May 17) | Oct 15 (before Oct 2) |
| Dorset | 980 ft | May 10 (1 in 10 after May 27) | Oct 10 (before Sep 26) |
| Eaton | 1,002 ft | Apr 25 (1 in 10 after May 10) | Oct 20 (before Oct 6) |
| Fairfield | 575 ft | Apr 19 (1 in 10 after May 7) | Oct 22 (before Oct 9) |
| Findlay Airport | 800 ft | Apr 19 (1 in 10 after May 6) | Oct 23 (before Oct 9) |
| Franklin | 679 ft | Apr 24 (1 in 10 after May 11) | Oct 19 (before Oct 7) |
| Gallipolis | 578 ft | Apr 18 (1 in 10 after May 4) | Oct 28 (before Oct 15) |
| Greenville WTP | 1,030 ft | Apr 21 (1 in 10 after May 7) | Oct 20 (before Oct 6) |
| Hannibal Locks & Dam | 620 ft | Apr 26 (1 in 10 after May 13) | Oct 26 (before Oct 12) |
| Hillsboro | 953 ft | Apr 24 (1 in 10 after May 11) | Oct 20 (before Oct 6) |
| Hiram | 1,230 ft | May 1 (1 in 10 after May 18) | Oct 20 (before Oct 5) |
| Lima Allen Co Airport | 975 ft | Apr 22 (1 in 10 after May 7) | Oct 22 (before Oct 7) |
| Lima Wwtp | 850 ft | Apr 24 (1 in 10 after May 11) | Oct 24 (before Oct 10) |
| Logan | 722 ft | Apr 30 (1 in 10 after May 17) | Oct 14 (before Oct 2) |
| Mansfield Lahm Muni Airport | 1,295 ft | Apr 26 (1 in 10 after May 12) | Oct 22 (before Oct 6) |
| Marion 2 N | 965 ft | Apr 25 (1 in 10 after May 11) | Oct 20 (before Oct 5) |
| Marysville | 970 ft | Apr 19 (1 in 10 after May 5) | Oct 26 (before Oct 13) |
| Millersburg | 819 ft | May 2 (1 in 10 after May 21) | Oct 14 (before Oct 1) |
| Millport 4 Ne | 1,170 ft | May 2 (1 in 10 after May 20) | Oct 13 (before Oct 1) |
| New Lexington 2 Nw | 877 ft | Apr 30 (1 in 10 after May 16) | Oct 17 (before Oct 4) |
| New Philadelphia Fld | 895 ft | Apr 26 (1 in 10 after May 15) | Oct 21 (before Oct 5) |
| Newark Wtr Wks | 835 ft | Apr 29 (1 in 10 after May 17) | Oct 16 (before Oct 1) |
| Norwalk Wwtp | 670 ft | Apr 25 (1 in 10 after May 9) | Oct 25 (before Oct 11) |
| Painesville 4 Nw | 600 ft | Apr 15 (1 in 10 after Apr 27) | Nov 9 (before Oct 30) |
| Pandora | 770 ft | Apr 23 (1 in 10 after May 9) | Oct 22 (before Oct 6) |
| Portsmouth-Sciotoville | 540 ft | Apr 17 (1 in 10 after May 5) | Oct 25 (before Oct 11) |
| Ripley Exp Farm | 880 ft | Apr 29 (1 in 10 after May 16) | Oct 11 (before Sep 28) |
| Sandusky | 584 ft | Apr 10 (1 in 10 after Apr 23) | Nov 5 (before Oct 23) |
| Sidney 1 S | 940 ft | Apr 27 (1 in 10 after May 12) | Oct 20 (before Oct 5) |
| Springfield WTP | 951 ft | Apr 25 (1 in 10 after May 12) | Oct 19 (before Oct 4) |
| Steubenville | 992 ft | Apr 29 (1 in 10 after May 15) | Oct 20 (before Oct 6) |
| Toledo Express Airport | 669 ft | Apr 22 (1 in 10 after May 7) | Oct 24 (before Oct 11) |
| Van Wert 1 S | 790 ft | Apr 21 (1 in 10 after May 6) | Oct 26 (before Oct 13) |
| Warren 3 S | 900 ft | May 8 (1 in 10 after May 25) | Oct 12 (before Sep 30) |
| Waverly | 572 ft | Apr 21 (1 in 10 after May 9) | Oct 22 (before Oct 6) |
| Wooster Exp Station | 1,020 ft | Apr 30 (1 in 10 after May 18) | Oct 12 (before Sep 29) |
| Wooster Wayne Co Airport | 1,137 ft | Apr 29 (1 in 10 after May 15) | Oct 14 (before Sep 29) |
| Xenia 6 Sse | 997 ft | Apr 18 (1 in 10 after May 4) | Oct 24 (before Oct 11) |
| Youngstown Rgnl Airport | 1,180 ft | May 1 (1 in 10 after May 20) | Oct 17 (before Oct 1) |
| Zanesville Muni Airport | 880 ft | Apr 26 (1 in 10 after May 14) | Oct 19 (before Oct 6) |
32°F dates from NOAA 1991-2020 freeze probabilities for each city's station. "1 in 10 after": a 10% chance of a later spring frost (planting is 90% safe after it). How to read frost dates.