Frost dates for Lowell, IN
At Lowell, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 29 and the median first fall frost is Oct 16, for a typical growing season of 171 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 14. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5b.
- Apr 29Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 14Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 16First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 171 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 25 | May 8 | May 25 |
| 32°F | Apr 14 | Apr 29 | May 14 |
| 28°F | Apr 1 | Apr 16 | May 3 |
| 24°F | Mar 19 | Apr 2 | 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 23 | Oct 6 | Oct 18 |
| 32°F | Oct 3 | Oct 16 | Oct 28 |
| 28°F | Oct 13 | Oct 26 | Nov 8 |
| 24°F | Oct 24 | Nov 5 | Nov 22 |
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 | 130 days | 150 days | 167 days |
| 32°F | 149 days | 171 days | 190 days |
| 28°F | 173 days | 193 days | 213 days |
| 24°F | 196 days | 216 days | 238 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46356 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 0 km |
| 46376 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 10 km |
| 46379 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 12 km |
| 46381 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 12 km |
| 46303 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 13 km |
| 46349 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 17 km |
| 46307 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 17 km |
| 46341 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 18 km |
| 60940 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 19 km |
| 60954 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 22 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 USC00125174, at 41.2647, -87.4178, elevation 203 m (665 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 29 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 136.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Wheatfield (31 km)
- Valparaiso Porter Co Muni Airport (40 km)
- Valparaiso Wtr Wks (42 km)
- Rensselaer (43 km)
- Wanatah 2 WNW (45 km)
- Indiana Dunes Nl (49 km)
- Francesville (54 km)
- Kentland (56 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.