Frost dates for Pontiac, Illinois
In a typical year, Pontiac’s last spring frost lands around Apr 16 and the first fall frost around Oct 24, a growing season of about 191 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 16 | Oct 24 |
| 90 percent | May 2 | Nov 5 |
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 Pontiac is typically around 53°F at 4 inches this time of year, estimated from the last two weeks of normal air temperatures.
See what is plantable in your ZIP with the what-to-plant lookup.
Common questions
When is the last frost in Pontiac, Illinois?
Pontiac’s last spring frost falls around April 16 in a typical year. One year in ten it is done by April 3, and one year in ten frost holds on until May 2. Frost-sensitive planting usually waits for the late side of that band.
When is the first fall frost in Pontiac?
The first fall frost arrives around October 24 in a typical year, as early as October 12 in an early year and as late as November 5 in a late one.
How long is the growing season in Pontiac?
About 191 days, counted between the typical last spring frost and the typical first fall frost.
What USDA zone is Pontiac in?
Pontiac 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
- Peoria, IL (around Apr 16 to Oct 23)
- Joliet, IL (around Apr 19 to Oct 25)
- Champaign, IL (around Apr 15 to Oct 24)
- Aurora, IL (around Apr 19 to Oct 23)
- Naperville, IL (around Apr 28 to Oct 16)
Row & Bed is a plant reference built around your garden: your zone, your frost dates, your forecast, and a cited page for every variety in your beds.
Set up your garden