Frost dates for Hays 1 S, KS
At Hays 1 S, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 25 and the median first fall frost is Oct 15, for a typical growing season of 171 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 8. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6b.
- Apr 25Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 8Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 15First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 171 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
USDA hardiness zone 6b (-5 to 0°F) · see all zone 6b frost dates
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 16 |
| 32°F | Apr 12 | Apr 25 | May 8 |
| 28°F | Apr 1 | Apr 15 | Apr 29 |
| 24°F | Mar 19 | Apr 4 | 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 23 | Oct 5 | Oct 17 |
| 32°F | Sep 29 | Oct 15 | Oct 26 |
| 28°F | Oct 10 | Oct 24 | Nov 6 |
| 24°F | Oct 18 | Nov 1 | Nov 15 |
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 | 153 days | 170 days |
| 32°F | 151 days | 171 days | 190 days |
| 28°F | 171 days | 191 days | 210 days |
| 24°F | 190 days | 210 days | 232 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 67601 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 2 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 USC00143527, at 38.8586, -99.3358, elevation 613 m (2,010 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 28 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 138.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Hays (2 km)
- Bison 3NW (34 km)
- Cedar Bluff Dam (34 km)
- Plainville 4WNW (43 km)
- Brownell 3NW (45 km)
- Russell Muni Airport (46 km)
- Wakeeney (50 km)
- Russell 7E (55 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.