Frost dates for Russell Muni Airport, KS
At Russell Muni Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 22 and the median first fall frost is Oct 17, for a typical growing season of 176 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 6. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 6a to 6b.
- Apr 22Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 6Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 17First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 176 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 18 | May 2 | May 14 |
| 32°F | Apr 9 | Apr 22 | May 6 |
| 28°F | Mar 28 | Apr 12 | Apr 27 |
| 24°F | Mar 15 | Apr 3 | Apr 18 |
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 8 | Oct 20 |
| 32°F | Oct 1 | Oct 17 | Oct 31 |
| 28°F | Oct 11 | Oct 27 | Nov 9 |
| 24°F | Oct 20 | Nov 3 | Nov 17 |
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 | 139 days | 158 days | 177 days |
| 32°F | 155 days | 176 days | 196 days |
| 28°F | 175 days | 196 days | 216 days |
| 24°F | 193 days | 215 days | 238 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 67665 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 7 km |
| 67640 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 21 km |
| 67658 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 29 km |
| 67673 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 33 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 USW00093997, at 38.8761, -98.8092, elevation 568 m (1,864 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 29 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 130.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Russell 7e (9 km)
- Wilson Lake (29 km)
- Hays (44 km)
- Hays 1 S (46 km)
- Bison 3nw (51 km)
- Ellsworth (53 km)
- Great Bend 3w (57 km)
- Lincoln 1 SE (61 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.