Frost dates for Columbus Ohio State Univ Airport, OH
At Columbus Ohio State Univ Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 22 and the median first fall frost is Oct 23, for a typical growing season of 183 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 9. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6b.
- Apr 22Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 9Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 23First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 183 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 3 | May 20 |
| 32°F | Apr 6 | Apr 22 | May 9 |
| 28°F | Mar 24 | Apr 9 | Apr 26 |
| 24°F | Mar 13 | Mar 30 | Apr 13 |
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 12 | Oct 24 |
| 32°F | Oct 9 | Oct 23 | Nov 4 |
| 28°F | Oct 20 | Nov 2 | Nov 15 |
| 24°F | Nov 1 | 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 | 141 days | 162 days | 181 days |
| 32°F | 163 days | 183 days | 202 days |
| 28°F | 185 days | 206 days | 226 days |
| 24°F | 209 days | 230 days | 252 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43235 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 0 km |
| 43220 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 3 km |
| 43085 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 6 km |
| 43016 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 7 km |
| 43017 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 7 km |
| 43002 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 8 km |
| 43026 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 11 km |
| 43065 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 11 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 USW00004804, at 40.0781, -83.0781, elevation 276 m (905 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 23 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
- Columbus Wcmh (7 km)
- Westerville (13 km)
- Columbus Port Columbus Intl Airport (19 km)
- Marysville (21 km)
- Columbus-Valley Crossing (24 km)
- London Fish Hatchery (42 km)
- Centerburg 2 SE (43 km)
- Lancaster Fairfield Airport (51 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.