Frost dates for Sterling, KS
At Sterling, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 15 and the median first fall frost is Oct 23, for a typical growing season of 190 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 30. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6b.
- Apr 15Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 30Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 23First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 190 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 13 | Apr 26 | May 6 |
| 32°F | Apr 2 | Apr 15 | Apr 30 |
| 28°F | Mar 22 | Apr 6 | Apr 21 |
| 24°F | Mar 9 | Mar 27 | Apr 10 |
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 30 | Oct 15 | Oct 25 |
| 32°F | Oct 7 | Oct 23 | Nov 4 |
| 28°F | Oct 19 | Nov 1 | Nov 15 |
| 24°F | Oct 27 | Nov 9 | Nov 26 |
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 | 152 days | 171 days | 190 days |
| 32°F | 169 days | 190 days | 209 days |
| 28°F | 189 days | 209 days | 228 days |
| 24°F | 205 days | 227 days | 250 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 67579 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 4 km |
| 67512 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 11 km |
| 67561 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 15 km |
| 67554 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 18 km |
| 67573 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 19 km |
| 67568 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 24 km |
| 67524 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 24 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 USC00147796, at 38.2144, -98.2078, elevation 499 m (1,636 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 121.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Hutchinson (29 km)
- Hutchinson Muni Airport (35 km)
- Hutchinson 10 SW (35 km)
- Hudson (41 km)
- Kanopolis Lake (49 km)
- McPherson (55 km)
- Great Bend 3w (57 km)
- Ellsworth (57 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.