Frost dates for Rensselaer, IN
At Rensselaer, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 23 and the median first fall frost is Oct 18, for a typical growing season of 177 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 7. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 5b to 6a.
- Apr 23Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 7Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 18First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 177 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 4 | May 19 |
| 32°F | Apr 9 | Apr 23 | May 7 |
| 28°F | Mar 29 | Apr 11 | Apr 27 |
| 24°F | Mar 14 | Apr 1 | Apr 16 |
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 25 | Oct 7 | Oct 20 |
| 32°F | Oct 4 | Oct 18 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F | Oct 16 | Oct 29 | Nov 11 |
| 24°F | Oct 29 | Nov 9 | Nov 26 |
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 | 136 days | 157 days | 175 days |
| 32°F | 157 days | 177 days | 197 days |
| 28°F | 178 days | 199 days | 219 days |
| 24°F | 202 days | 223 days | 246 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 47978 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 9 km |
| 47964 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 11 km |
| 47977 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 18 km |
| 47943 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 18 km |
| 47963 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 23 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 USC00127298, at 40.9239, -87.1753, elevation 192 m (630 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 127.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Francesville (25 km)
- Kentland (29 km)
- Wheatfield (32 km)
- Chalmers 5 W (34 km)
- Lowell (43 km)
- Boswell 4wnw (49 km)
- Winamac 2sse (51 km)
- W Lafayette 6 NW (52 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.