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Frost Depth in Kentucky: When the Ground Freezes

1 of 4 stations freeze at 2 inches in a typical winter.

Stations that typically freeze
1 of 4
Earliest typical freeze at 2 in
Jan 26
Latest typical thaw at 2 in
Jan 31

Station by station

When does the ground freeze in Kentucky?

Each bar runs from the typical first freeze to the typical last thaw at that depth, the median over the station's complete winters on record, with the typical number of frozen days after it. Frost reaches the deeper probes later in the winter. A depth that froze in fewer than half of its winters has no typical dates. Stations: 1 typically freeze, 3 never stayed at or below 32°F for 3 days running.

Bowling Green 21 NNE

USCRN

In 4 complete winters on record, 2-inch soil never stayed at or below 32°F for 3 days running.

Lowest daily reading at each depth, each from a different day: 33.3°F at 2 inches, 33.6°F at 4 inches, 35.8°F at 8 inches, 38.3°F at 20 inches and 41.4°F at 40 inches.

Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen

Mammoth Cave

SCAN

In 5 complete winters on record, 2-inch soil never stayed at or below 32°F for 3 days running.

Lowest daily reading at each depth, each from a different day: 33.1°F at 2 inches, 34°F at 4 inches, 34°F at 8 inches, 38.1°F at 20 inches and 43.2°F at 40 inches.

Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen

Princeton #1

SCAN

In 3 complete winters on record, 2-inch soil never stayed at or below 32°F for 3 days running.

Lowest daily reading at each depth, each from a different day: 32.9°F at 2 inches, 33.3°F at 4 inches, 34.5°F at 8 inches, 39.6°F at 20 inches and 45.3°F at 40 inches.

Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen

Versailles 3 NNW

USCRN

Typically freezes to 2 inches, not to 4.

2 in
2 inches: typically frozen from Jan 26 to Jan 31, a median of 7 frozen days.7 days
4 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
8 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
20 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
40 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
No current reading

A winter runs July to June. Our station readings come from one grass-covered site per station at five fixed depths, and often show shallower frost than regional figures.

More on frost depth

Where the ground is frozen today across the US · Kentucky soil temperature · First frost and frost depth guide