Frost dates for Lawrence, KS
At Lawrence, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 12 and the median first fall frost is Oct 28, for a typical growing season of 199 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 24. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6b.
- Apr 12Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 24Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 28First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 199 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 8 | Apr 21 | May 2 |
| 32°F | Mar 30 | Apr 12 | Apr 24 |
| 28°F | Mar 16 | Apr 3 | Apr 17 |
| 24°F | Mar 6 | Mar 24 | Apr 8 |
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 | Oct 2 | Oct 19 | Oct 31 |
| 32°F | Oct 14 | Oct 28 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F | Oct 22 | Nov 4 | Nov 20 |
| 24°F | Oct 31 | Nov 13 | Dec 1 |
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 | 159 days | 179 days | 197 days |
| 32°F | 178 days | 199 days | 217 days |
| 28°F | 197 days | 216 days | 240 days |
| 24°F | 212 days | 234 days | 259 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 66045 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 1 km |
| 66046 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 7 km |
| 66025 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 16 km |
| 66006 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 19 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 USC00144559, at 38.9583, -95.2514, elevation 320 m (1,050 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 20 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 104.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Lawrence Muni Airport (7 km)
- Clinton Lake (8 km)
- Perry Lake (22 km)
- Oskaloosa 4 NE (32 km)
- Bonner Springs (33 km)
- Olathe Johnson Co Airport (34 km)
- Topeka Muni Airport (35 km)
- Topeka - NWS (35 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.