We had our first extended stretch of fall-like air. last week, and temperatures are about to dip again. Fall is starting to settle in, so let's take a look at when the first frost or freeze of the season may happen. It's important to note that these statistics are for the city of Louisville. Rural areas may have significantly different statistics, even within Jefferson County. The average date of the first 36 degree reading (Frost) in Louisville is October 20th, but the map below shows for some spots in our area, the average first frost is the last week of September.
Image Courtesy: NWS
The average date of the first 32 degree reading (Freeze) in Louisville is November 1st.
Image Courtesy: NWS
The average date of the first 28 degree reading (Hard Freeze) in Louisville is November 12th...
Image Courtesy: NWS
Records:
- Latest spring frost (36°): May 27, 1961
- Latest spring freeze (32°): May 10, 1966
- Latest spring hard freeze (28°): April 23, 1986
- Earliest final spring frost (36°): March 15, 1884
- Earliest final spring freeze (32°): March 5, 1927
- Earliest final spring hard freeze (28°): February 19, 1905
- Earliest fall frost (36°): September 25, 1950
- Earliest fall freeze (32°): October 3, 1974
- Earliest fall hard freeze (28°): October 10, 1964
- Latest first fall frost (36°): November 23, 1902
- Latest first fall freeze (32°): November 28, 1899 and November 28, 2009
- Latest first fall hard freeze (28°): December 13, 1939
- Longest growing season: 257 days in 1884
- Shortest growing season: 166 days in 1976
Averages, using the entire period of record:
- Last spring frost (36°): April 18
- Last spring freeze (32°): April 5
- Last spring hard freeze (28°): March 24
- First fall frost (36°): October 20
- First fall freeze (32°): November 1
- First fall hard freeze (28°): November 12
