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Vermont Frost Dates: Last and First Frost by Town

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

Quick answer

Across Vermont's 45 NOAA stations with regular frost, the median last spring frost is May 13 and the median first fall frost is October 1. Last frost dates range from April 28 at S Hero to June 1 at Sutton 2NE, so enter your ZIP code below for the station nearest you.

How frost dates vary across Vermont

  • Elevation matters: across Vermont's stations, each 1,000 ft of elevation delays the median last frost by about 5 days.
  • Safety margin: the median 10%-risk date (May 28) is about 15 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 Vermont's major weather stations

These National Weather Service stations, mostly at airports, have the longest and most complete records in the state.
Barre Montpelier Airport1,126May 16May 30Sep 29136
Bennington Morse St Airport826May 11May 28Oct 2143
Burlington Intl Airport330Apr 29May 11Oct 15169
Morrisville Stowe State Airport732May 20Jun 4Sep 28129
Saint Johnsbury700May 10May 23Oct 3147
Springfield Hartness Airport578May 13May 28Oct 3143

All 45 stations in Vermont

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.
Averill1,699May 25Jun 8Sep 22120
Barre Montpelier Airport1,126May 16May 30Sep 29136
Bennington Morse St Airport826May 11May 28Oct 2143
Burlington Intl Airport330Apr 29May 11Oct 15169
Cavendish842May 16May 31Sep 29136
Chelsea 2 NW1,440May 9May 24Oct 1143
Corinth1,180May 14May 29Sep 29136
Cornwall345May 5May 20Oct 3151
E Haven1,000May 30Jun 11Sep 16109
Eden 2 S1,456May 5May 20Oct 8155
Enosburg Falls420May 14May 28Oct 1139
Enosburg Falls 2425May 18Jun 2Sep 30134
Essex Junction 1 N340May 2May 17Oct 11160
Island Pond1,200May 19Jun 3Sep 29129
Island Pond Airport1,194May 16Jun 2Sep 28132
Jay Peak1,840May 14May 31Oct 1138
Johnson 2 N980May 9May 24Oct 1142
Montpelier 2530May 5May 21Oct 9157
Morrisville 4 SSW760May 24Jun 5Sep 27123
Morrisville Stowe State Airport732May 20Jun 4Sep 28129
Mount Mansfield3,950May 23Jun 8Sep 30130
N Hartland Lake570May 8May 22Oct 6150
N Springfield Lake560May 9May 22Oct 2146
Newport790May 14May 28Sep 30138
Northfield670May 18May 30Sep 28133
Peru1,700May 16May 31Oct 2140
Plainfield800May 25Jun 7Sep 22119
Pownal 1 NE1,110May 7May 22Oct 8154
Rochester830May 13May 29Oct 2141
Rutland620May 15May 31Sep 27132
S Hero110Apr 28May 10Oct 20174
S Lincoln1,341May 21Jun 6Sep 25124
Saint Johnsbury700May 13May 25Oct 3143
Saint Johnsbury700May 10May 23Oct 3147
Salisbury 2 N420May 21Jun 7Sep 26127
Springfield Hartness Airport578May 13May 28Oct 3143
St Albans Radio380May 1May 16Oct 12161
Sunderland 2900May 13May 28Sep 29137
Sutton1,500May 9May 25Oct 1143
Sutton 2NE1,000Jun 1Jun 15Sep 13103
Union Village Dam460May 9May 22Oct 2145
Vergennes196Apr 30May 11Oct 17168
Waitsfield 2 SE1,142May 11May 27Oct 1142
Woodstock600May 13May 27Oct 1141
Worcester 2 W1,360May 4May 18Oct 5153

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Vermont?

The median last spring frost (32°F) across Vermont's NOAA weather stations is May 13, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. It ranges from April 28 at S Hero to June 1 at Sutton 2NE. For a safer planting date, use the 10%-risk date; the state median for that is May 28.

When is the first frost in Vermont?

The median first fall frost across Vermont's stations is October 1. The earliest median first frost is September 13 at Sutton 2NE, and the latest is October 20 at S Hero.

How long is the growing season in Vermont?

The median frost-free season is 141 days across Vermont's stations, from 103 days at Sutton 2NE to 174 days at S Hero.

When should I plant tomatoes in Vermont?

Plant tomatoes outdoors after your local last frost, ideally after the 10%-risk date when nights stay above 50°F. At a typical Vermont station that means starting seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before May 13 and transplanting from about May 28. 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