Frost dates · Illinois
When is the first frost in Chicago?
Chicago right now
38°FClear skies
- Today44°F / 37°FClouds
- Tomorrow48°F / 33°FClear skies
- Monday49°F / 32°FClear skies
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Live from OpenWeatherMap. Alerts from the National Weather Service.
In a typical year, Chicago’s first frost comes around October 28 and its last around April 16.
One year in ten the first frost comes as early as October 15, and nine years in ten it has arrived by November 11. One year in ten the last frost is over as early as April 3, and nine years in ten it is over by May 1. Chicago averages about 121 nights a year at 32°F or colder, with about 193 frost-free days in between in a typical year. It’s frost season here, and the last frost usually comes around April 16. That makes it the 56th latest first frost of the 117 cities we track where it freezes most years.
Last updated
No freeze in the forecast for the next 48 hours.
Chicago’s frost-free season is longer than its reputation, mostly because the lake is too stubborn to cool down.
Live 48-hour check from OpenWeatherMap, refreshed about every half hour. Alerts from the National Weather Service.
Frost dates, early, typical and late years
| Early year (1 in 10) | Typical | Late year (1 in 10) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First frost | October 15 | October 28 | November 11 |
| Last frost | April 3 | April 16 | May 1 |
A frost date here is a night when the official thermometer reads 32°F or colder. Frost on the ground can show up on clear, calm nights a few degrees milder.
Cities with about the same first frost
- Asheville, North Carolina: first frost around October 28
- Dayton, Ohio: first frost around October 28
- Lexington, Kentucky: first frost around October 28
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991 to 2020, station USW00094846.