Frost dates for Melvern Lake, KS
At Melvern Lake, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 8 and the median first fall frost is Oct 30, for a typical growing season of 202 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 22. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6b.
- Apr 8Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 22Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 30First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 202 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 5 | Apr 19 | May 3 |
| 32°F | Mar 24 | Apr 8 | Apr 22 |
| 28°F | Mar 11 | Mar 31 | Apr 13 |
| 24°F | Mar 1 | Mar 19 | Apr 4 |
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 6 | Oct 21 | Nov 1 |
| 32°F | Oct 16 | Oct 30 | Nov 13 |
| 28°F | Oct 25 | Nov 7 | Nov 24 |
| 24°F | Nov 1 | Nov 18 | Dec 4 |
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 | 162 days | 183 days | 201 days |
| 32°F | 183 days | 202 days | 224 days |
| 28°F | 201 days | 223 days | 245 days |
| 24°F | 219 days | 242 days | 266 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 66510 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 8 km |
| 66856 | 6b | -5 to 0°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 USC00145210, at 38.5039, -95.7036, elevation 334 m (1,094 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 26 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 112.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Osage City (17 km)
- Pomona Lake (20 km)
- John Redmond Lake (28 km)
- Ottawa (39 km)
- Emporia 3 NW (46 km)
- Emporia Muni Airport (47 km)
- Garnett 1 E (49 km)
- Topeka Forbes Field (50 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.