Ohio Frost Dates and Planting Zones
Across 1,414 ZIP codes we matched to a NOAA weather station, Ohio’s last spring frost (50% risk, 32°F) ranges from May 10 near Dorset to Apr 8 near Cleveland Burke ap. First fall frost runs from Oct 7 near Morenci to Nov 12 near Cleveland Burke ap. Look up your exact ZIP code on the frost date tool for a station-matched result and hardiness zone.
Frost dates by city in Ohio
The 12 weather stations covering the most OH ZIP codes, at the 50% and 10% probability levels (32°F threshold). The 10% date is later and safer to plant after; the 50% date is the typical planning date.
| Station | Last frost (50%) | Last frost (10%) | First frost (50%) | First frost (10%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toledo Metcalf Fld | Apr 20 | May 7 | Oct 27 | Oct 14 |
| Cincinnati Lunken ap | Apr 16 | May 3 | Oct 25 | Oct 12 |
| Cleveland Burke ap | Apr 8 | Apr 20 | Nov 12 | Nov 1 |
| Dayton Mcd | Apr 18 | May 5 | Oct 25 | Oct 13 |
| Akron Canton Rgnl ap | Apr 24 | May 11 | Oct 26 | Oct 11 |
| Columbus Wcmh | Apr 20 | May 7 | Oct 24 | Oct 13 |
| Millport 4 ne | May 2 | May 20 | Oct 13 | Oct 1 |
| Akron Fulton Intl ap | Apr 24 | May 9 | Oct 28 | Oct 12 |
| Warren 3 s | May 8 | May 25 | Oct 12 | Sep 30 |
| Stow 4 se | Apr 30 | May 16 | Oct 21 | Oct 7 |
| Milford | Apr 23 | May 8 | Oct 18 | Oct 6 |
| Cleveland | Apr 20 | May 5 | Nov 3 | Oct 21 |
USDA hardiness zones in Ohio
Share of Ohio ZIP codes in each 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone. 52.8% of OH ZIP codes moved to a different zone between the 2012 and 2023 maps, mostly warming as winter lows trended up.
| Zone (2023) | Share of OH ZIPs |
|---|---|
| 6a | 39.1% |
| 6b | 56.3% |
| 7a | 4.5% |
Climate is shifting
Averaged across OH stations with both normals periods, the last spring frost now lands about 1 day earlier than the 1981–2010 normal. First fall frost now lands about 4 days later, stretching or shrinking the frost-free season depending on the station.
Plan around your Ohio frost dates
Once you know your local last and first frost, these guides help you time the work around them: