Frost dates for Elgin, IL
At Elgin, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 26 and the median first fall frost is Oct 18, for a typical growing season of 174 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 12. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5b.
- Apr 26Last 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
- 174 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 22 | May 6 | May 24 |
| 32°F | Apr 12 | Apr 26 | May 12 |
| 28°F | Apr 1 | Apr 14 | Apr 29 |
| 24°F | Mar 19 | Apr 3 | Apr 19 |
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 24 | Oct 7 | Oct 21 |
| 32°F | Oct 3 | Oct 18 | Oct 31 |
| 28°F | Oct 15 | Oct 29 | Nov 12 |
| 24°F | Oct 27 | Nov 8 | 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 | 132 days | 152 days | 172 days |
| 32°F | 152 days | 174 days | 193 days |
| 28°F | 176 days | 197 days | 216 days |
| 24°F | 200 days | 219 days | 240 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60123 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 3 km |
| 60120 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 5 km |
| 60118 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 6 km |
| 60110 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 6 km |
| 60177 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 8 km |
| 60136 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 9 km |
| 60124 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 11 km |
| 60102 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 11 km |
| 60140 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 19 km |
| 60109 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 21 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 USC00112736, at 42.0628, -88.2861, elevation 233 m (763 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 139.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Streamwood (10 km)
- Barrington 3sw (12 km)
- West Chicago Dupage Airport (17 km)
- Crystal Lake 4nw (24 km)
- Mundelein 4 WSW (27 km)
- Mc Henry -Wg Stratton L&d (28 km)
- Chicago Ohare Intl Airport (30 km)
- Aurora (31 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.