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Rhode Island Frost Dates: Last and First Frost by Town

11 NOAA weather stations · 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals · Data updated 2026-10-29

Quick answer

Across Rhode Island's 11 NOAA stations with regular frost, the median last spring frost is April 22 and the median first fall frost is October 20. Last frost dates range from April 7 at Newport Rose to May 3 at Kingston, so enter your ZIP code below for the station nearest you.

How frost dates vary across Rhode Island

  • North vs south: stations in the northern third of the state (north of 41.7°N) reach their median last frost about 9 days earlier than the southern third (south of 41.5°N).
  • Safety margin: the median 10%-risk date (May 4) is about 12 days after the median last frost. Waiting until then cuts the chance of a killing frost on tender transplants from 1 in 2 to 1 in 10.

Frost dates at Rhode Island's major weather stations

These National Weather Service stations, mostly at airports, have the longest and most complete records in the state.
Kingston 1 NW115Apr 27May 11Oct 15171
Kingston 1 W106May 1May 18Oct 12163
Newport State Airport172Apr 11Apr 24Nov 4206
Providence T F Green Airport60Apr 11Apr 23Oct 30199
Westerly State Airport81Apr 11Apr 26Oct 31201

All 11 stations in Rhode Island

Last frost and first frost are medians: a 50% chance of a 32°F night after (spring) or before (fall) that date. 10% risk is the spring date with only a 1-in-10 chance of a later frost. Click a column to sort.
Coventry 2280Apr 22May 4Oct 20179
Kingston117May 3May 16Oct 8159
Kingston 1 NW115Apr 27May 11Oct 15171
Kingston 1 W106May 1May 18Oct 12163
N Foster 1 E630Apr 25May 9Oct 19176
Newport Rose15Apr 7Apr 21Nov 13216
Newport State Airport172Apr 11Apr 24Nov 4206
Providence T F Green Airport60Apr 11Apr 23Oct 30199
Tiverton90Apr 11Apr 22Nov 2203
Westerly State Airport81Apr 11Apr 26Oct 31201
Woonsocket110Apr 22May 6Oct 19179

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Rhode Island?

The median last spring frost (32°F) across Rhode Island's NOAA weather stations is April 22, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. It ranges from April 7 at Newport Rose to May 3 at Kingston. For a safer planting date, use the 10%-risk date; the state median for that is May 4.

When is the first frost in Rhode Island?

The median first fall frost across Rhode Island's stations is October 20. The earliest median first frost is October 8 at Kingston, and the latest is November 13 at Newport Rose.

How long is the growing season in Rhode Island?

The median frost-free season is 179 days across Rhode Island's stations, from 159 days at Kingston to 216 days at Newport Rose.

When should I plant tomatoes in Rhode Island?

Plant tomatoes outdoors after your local last frost, ideally after the 10%-risk date when nights stay above 50°F. At a typical Rhode Island station that means starting seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before April 22 and transplanting from about May 4. Check your ZIP code, because dates vary by weeks across the state.

How to use these dates

Frost dates are 30-year averages from NOAA, not forecasts. Use them to plan seed starting and planting, then watch the 10-day forecast as the date approaches. Cold air settles in valleys and low spots, so a garden at the bottom of a slope can frost a week or more later in spring than the nearest station shows.

Ready to plan? The planting calendar by ZIP code turns these dates into start-indoors, transplant and sowing dates for 30 crops.

Sources and method

Dates are the 32°F freeze probabilities published in the NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for each station. Station names are NOAA's, lightly expanded for readability. See the methodology or download the full table.

Frost dates in other states