Frost dates for Ely, MN
At Ely, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 14 and the median first fall frost is Sep 29, for a typical growing season of 135 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 30. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 3b.
- May 14Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 30Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Sep 29First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 135 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 13 | May 28 | Jun 12 |
| 32°F | May 2 | May 14 | May 30 |
| 28°F | Apr 22 | May 3 | May 17 |
| 24°F | Apr 13 | Apr 26 | May 8 |
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 5 | Sep 19 | Oct 1 |
| 32°F | Sep 16 | Sep 29 | Oct 10 |
| 28°F | Sep 26 | Oct 8 | Oct 23 |
| 24°F | Oct 6 | Oct 21 | Nov 5 |
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 | 93 days | 114 days | 132 days |
| 32°F | 116 days | 135 days | 154 days |
| 28°F | 137 days | 157 days | 174 days |
| 24°F | 159 days | 177 days | 196 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55796 | 3b | -35 to -30°F | 4 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 USC00212561, at 47.9056, -91.8283, elevation 450 m (1,475 ft).
- Data quality: Estimated from nearby stations (2+ years), 7 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 189.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Ely (3 km)
- Babbitt (23 km)
- Ely 25e (29 km)
- Tower 2s (36 km)
- Isabella 14w (37 km)
- Embarrass (42 km)
- Cook 8ne (53 km)
- Wolf Ridge Elc (68 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.