Frost dates for Joliet, Illinois
In a typical year, Joliet’s last spring frost lands around Apr 19 and the first fall frost around Oct 25, a growing season of about 189 days. These are odds drawn from 30-year NOAA climate normals, not a promise. USDA zone 6a.
Right now the typical frost season has arrived; planting waits for spring.
| Odds | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|
| 10 percent | Apr 3 | Oct 12 |
| 50 percent | Apr 19 | Oct 25 |
| 90 percent | May 7 | Nov 6 |
A 10 percent year is an early year, a 90 percent year a late one. Frost-sensitive planting usually waits for the 90 percent side of the last-frost band.
Soil in Joliet is typically around 52°F at 4 inches this time of year, estimated from the last two weeks of normal air temperatures.
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Common questions
When is the last frost in Joliet, Illinois?
Joliet’s last spring frost falls around April 19 in a typical year. One year in ten it is done by April 3, and one year in ten frost holds on until May 7. Frost-sensitive planting usually waits for the late side of that band.
When is the first fall frost in Joliet?
The first fall frost arrives around October 25 in a typical year, as early as October 12 in an early year and as late as November 6 in a late one.
How long is the growing season in Joliet?
About 189 days, counted between the typical last spring frost and the typical first fall frost.
What USDA zone is Joliet in?
Joliet is in USDA hardiness zone 6a under the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
Dates come from 30-year NOAA climate normals for the nearest reporting station. They describe odds, not a forecast.
Nearby cities
- Naperville, IL (around Apr 28 to Oct 16)
- Aurora, IL (around Apr 19 to Oct 23)
- Hammond, IN (around Apr 23 to Oct 20)
- Chicago, IL (around Apr 10 to Nov 5)
- Pontiac, IL (around Apr 16 to Oct 24)
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