The fall season is underway across the area and it's the time of year when the possibility for frost and freezing temperatures at night return. Typically, frost can occur when the temperature falls below 36°F, especially in rural areas. It is a localized phenomena and can be quite variable across a small area. While the National Weather Service does not keep track of "frost" in observations per se, we do keep track of when temperatures hit the freezing mark or fall below. Frost becomes more widespread when the temperature falls below 32°F with some freeze possible. A hard freeze is possible when temperatures fall below 28°F. The maps below, courtesy of the Midwestern Regional Climate Center, show the average dates for the first freeze and hard freeze of the fall. Click on the images for a larger resolution.
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The table below shows the normal first, earliest first, and latest first date of temperatures at or below 32°F for the fall season at locations across the area.
| Location | Normal First Date* | Earliest Date | Latest Date | Record Period |
| Benton Harbor | October 8 | September 13 (1985) | November 26 (1890) | 1890-present |
| Defiance, OH | October 18 | October 1 (2009) | November 8 (2004) | 1998-present |
| Fort Wayne | October 13 | September 23 (1995, 1974, 1967) | November 24 (1931) | 1912-present |
| Goshen, IN | October 12 | October 1 (2009) | October 26 (2005) | 1997-present |
| Lima, OH | October 15 | October 1 (2009) | November 8 (2005) | 1998-present |
| South Bend | October 17 | September 21 (1897) | November 11 (1985) | 1893-present |
*Normals are computed for the 30 year period of 1981 to 2010.
The table below shows the normal first, earliest first, and latest first date of temperatures at or below 28°F for the fall season at locations across the area.
| Location | Normal First Date* | Earliest Date | Latest Date | Record Period |
| Benton Harbor | October 24 | September 24 (1989) | December 4 (1899) | 1890-present |
| Defiance, OH | October 30 | October 14 (2002) | November 9 (2004) | 1998-present |
| Fort Wayne | October 28 | October 3 (1974) | November 25 (1931) | 1912-present |
| Goshen, IN | October 20 | October 2 (2003) | November 2 (2007) | 1997-present |
| Lima, OH | October 29 | October 14 (2002) | November 9 (2004) | 1998-present |
| South Bend | November 3 | October 2 (1908) | November 26 (1902) | 1893-present |
*Normals are computed for the 30 year period of 1981 to 2010.
Click on the maps below to go to the most recent versions of the data from Midwestern Regional Climate Center.
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