Garden Yardstick

Frost Dates in Rhode Island

Across 11 NOAA weather stations in Rhode Island, the average last spring frost falls between April 7 at Newport Rose and May 3 at Kingston. At a typical Rhode Island station it is around April 22, with the first fall frost around October 20 and a frost-free season of about 179 days.

Find the frost dates for your ZIP code

A typical Rhode Island season

What shapes frost dates in Rhode Island

  • The frost-free season ranges from 159 days at Kingston to 216 days at Newport Rose.
  • Gardens in valleys and low spots, where cold air settles, often frost a week or more later in spring than the nearest station.

Frost dates at major airports

StationLast frostSafer dateFirst frostSeason (days)
Kingston 1 NWApr 27May 11Oct 15171
Kingston 1 WMay 1May 18Oct 12163
Newport State AirportApr 11Apr 24Nov 4206
Providence T F Green AirportApr 11Apr 23Oct 30199
Westerly State AirportApr 11Apr 26Oct 31201

All 11 weather stations in Rhode Island

StationElevation (ft)Last frostSafer dateFirst frostSeason (days)
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

Last frost and first frost are averages (a 50% chance of frost later in spring or earlier in fall). Safer date is the spring date with only a 10% chance of a later frost.

Using these dates

Plant hardy crops like peas and spinach several weeks before your last frost, and tender crops like tomatoes and peppers after it, once nights stay above 50°F. The Seed Starting Calculator turns your frost date into sowing and planting dates, and When to Plant Tomatoes explains the timing in detail.

Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32°F threshold.

Frost dates in other states