Frost dates for Cresco 1 NE, IA
At Cresco 1 NE, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 8 and the median first fall frost is Oct 1, for a typical growing season of 147 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 21. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 4b.
- May 8Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 21Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 1First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 147 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 3 | May 17 | May 29 |
| 32°F | Apr 25 | May 8 | May 21 |
| 28°F | Apr 13 | Apr 29 | May 13 |
| 24°F | Apr 3 | Apr 17 | May 2 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Sep 11 | Sep 24 | Oct 5 |
| 32°F | Sep 19 | Oct 1 | Oct 14 |
| 28°F | Sep 28 | Oct 11 | Oct 24 |
| 24°F | Oct 9 | Oct 22 | Nov 4 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 110 days | 128 days | 147 days |
| 32°F | 127 days | 147 days | 163 days |
| 28°F | 145 days | 165 days | 187 days |
| 24°F | 166 days | 186 days | 207 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 52136 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 2 km |
| 52165 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 12 km |
| 52155 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 17 km |
| 52163 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 19 km |
| 52134 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 26 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00131954, at 43.3894, -92.0939, elevation 382 m (1,255 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 29 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 170.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Decorah (26 km)
- New Hampton (42 km)
- Waukon (52 km)
- Postville (55 km)
- Osage (59 km)
- Charles City (59 km)
- Fayette (60 km)
- Tripoli (66 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.