Frost dates for Topeka - NWS, KS
At Topeka - NWS, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 16 and the median first fall frost is Oct 22, for a typical growing season of 189 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 27. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6b.
- Apr 16Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 27Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 22First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 189 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 10 | Apr 24 | May 5 |
| 32°F | Apr 1 | Apr 16 | Apr 27 |
| 28°F | Mar 17 | Apr 5 | Apr 20 |
| 24°F | Mar 3 | Mar 24 | 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 28 | Oct 13 | Oct 26 |
| 32°F | Oct 6 | Oct 22 | Nov 4 |
| 28°F | Oct 17 | Oct 31 | Nov 16 |
| 24°F | Oct 27 | Nov 10 | Nov 29 |
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 | 150 days | 169 days | 186 days |
| 32°F | 169 days | 189 days | 209 days |
| 28°F | 188 days | 208 days | 233 days |
| 24°F | 207 days | 230 days | 257 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 66608 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 3 km |
| 66607 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 3 km |
| 66603 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 4 km |
| 66612 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 6 km |
| 66605 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 7 km |
| 66621 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 8 km |
| 66606 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 8 km |
| 66604 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 9 km |
| 66622 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 9 km |
| 66618 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 13 km |
| 66539 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 20 km |
| 66533 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 29 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 USC00148171, at 39.0722, -95.6303, elevation 268 m (880 ft).
- Data quality: Estimated from nearby stations (2+ years), 10 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 114.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Topeka Muni Airport (0 km)
- Topeka Forbes Field (14 km)
- Perry Lake (20 km)
- Valley Falls 3 SW (29 km)
- Clinton Lake (29 km)
- Lawrence (35 km)
- Oskaloosa 4 NE (36 km)
- Lawrence Muni Airport (37 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.