Frost dates for Cottonwood Falls, KS
At Cottonwood Falls, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 19 and the median first fall frost is Oct 18, for a typical growing season of 180 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 3. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6b.
- Apr 19Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 3Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 18First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 180 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 14 | Apr 29 | May 10 |
| 32°F | Apr 3 | Apr 19 | May 3 |
| 28°F | Mar 24 | Apr 7 | Apr 24 |
| 24°F | Mar 12 | Mar 31 | Apr 13 |
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 9 | Oct 21 |
| 32°F | Oct 1 | Oct 18 | Oct 30 |
| 28°F | Oct 13 | Oct 27 | Nov 9 |
| 24°F | Oct 21 | Nov 5 | Nov 21 |
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 | 143 days | 162 days | 181 days |
| 32°F | 161 days | 180 days | 200 days |
| 28°F | 180 days | 200 days | 221 days |
| 24°F | 197 days | 218 days | 241 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 66845 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 9 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 USC00141858, at 38.3703, -96.5483, elevation 376 m (1,232 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 27 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 119.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Tallgrass Prairie National Park (7 km)
- Emporia 3 NW (29 km)
- Emporia Muni Airport (32 km)
- Council Grove Lake (34 km)
- Florence (36 km)
- Cassoday 2se (39 km)
- Marion Rsvr (46 km)
- Herington (48 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.