Frost dates for Humboldt Water Plant, IA
At Humboldt Water Plant, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 27 and the median first fall frost is Oct 9, for a typical growing season of 166 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 7. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5a.
- Apr 27Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 7Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 9First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 166 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 | Apr 23 | May 5 | May 15 |
| 32°F | Apr 15 | Apr 27 | May 7 |
| 28°F | Apr 6 | Apr 17 | Apr 30 |
| 24°F | Mar 26 | Apr 9 | Apr 21 |
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 17 | Sep 29 | Oct 13 |
| 32°F | Sep 24 | Oct 9 | Oct 24 |
| 28°F | Oct 5 | Oct 22 | Nov 3 |
| 24°F | Oct 18 | Oct 31 | Nov 12 |
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 | 130 days | 147 days | 164 days |
| 32°F | 147 days | 166 days | 183 days |
| 28°F | 167 days | 186 days | 202 days |
| 24°F | 185 days | 203 days | 221 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50548 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 1 km |
| 50582 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 10 km |
| 50520 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 18 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 USC00133980, at 42.7197, -94.2203, elevation 335 m (1,100 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 11 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 152.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Dakota City (2 km)
- Fort Dodge 5nnw (15 km)
- Pocahontas (36 km)
- Algona (39 km)
- Clarion (40 km)
- Webster City (44 km)
- Rockwell City (49 km)
- Emmetsburg (57 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.