Frost dates for Manchester #2, IA
At Manchester #2, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 3 and the median first fall frost is Oct 4, for a typical growing season of 154 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 16. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 4b to 5a.
- May 3Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 16Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 4First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 154 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 29 | May 12 | May 25 |
| 32°F | Apr 18 | May 3 | May 16 |
| 28°F | Apr 7 | Apr 23 | May 7 |
| 24°F | Mar 29 | Apr 11 | Apr 29 |
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 14 | Sep 26 | Oct 7 |
| 32°F | Sep 22 | Oct 4 | Oct 17 |
| 28°F | Oct 2 | Oct 15 | Oct 28 |
| 24°F | Oct 12 | Oct 26 | Nov 6 |
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 | 117 days | 135 days | 154 days |
| 32°F | 136 days | 154 days | 174 days |
| 28°F | 153 days | 174 days | 194 days |
| 24°F | 173 days | 197 days | 217 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 52057 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 2 km |
| 52036 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 9 km |
| 50654 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 12 km |
| 52223 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 12 km |
| 52038 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 15 km |
| 52041 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 17 km |
| 52050 | 4b | -25 to -20°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 USC00135086, at 42.4733, -91.4517, elevation 302 m (990 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 158.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Coggon (22 km)
- Elkader 6 SSW (34 km)
- Independence #1 (35 km)
- Stanley (38 km)
- Cascade (41 km)
- Oelwein 1e (42 km)
- Anamosa 1 WNW (42 km)
- Oelwein 2 S (42 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.