Frost dates for S Bend, IN
At S Bend, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 23 and the median first fall frost is Oct 23, for a typical growing season of 181 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 9. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6a.
- Apr 23Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 9Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 23First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 181 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 20 | May 3 | May 18 |
| 32°F | Apr 11 | Apr 23 | May 9 |
| 28°F | Mar 30 | Apr 12 | Apr 28 |
| 24°F | Mar 17 | 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 28 | Oct 12 | Oct 24 |
| 32°F | Oct 9 | Oct 23 | Nov 5 |
| 28°F | Oct 21 | Nov 3 | Nov 21 |
| 24°F | Nov 2 | Nov 16 | Dec 2 |
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 | 140 days | 161 days | 178 days |
| 32°F | 162 days | 181 days | 201 days |
| 28°F | 183 days | 205 days | 227 days |
| 24°F | 206 days | 228 days | 251 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46624 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 0 km |
| 46556 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 0 km |
| 46616 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 2 km |
| 46617 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 2 km |
| 46601 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 3 km |
| 46637 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 4 km |
| 46635 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 4 km |
| 46615 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 4 km |
| 46613 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 5 km |
| 46545 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 9 km |
| 46530 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 11 km |
| 46544 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 14 km |
| 46561 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 15 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 USC00128437, at 41.7006, -86.2486, elevation 216 m (710 ft).
- Data quality: Estimated from nearby stations (2+ years), 4 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 133.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- South Bend Michiana Regional Airport (6 km)
- Lakeville (19 km)
- Goshen 3sw (34 km)
- Plymouth (41 km)
- Laporte (41 km)
- Goshen Muni Airport (43 km)
- Knox Wastewater Plant (54 km)
- Warsaw (58 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.