Frost dates for Minnesota City Dam 5, MN
At Minnesota City Dam 5, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 23 and the median first fall frost is Oct 16, for a typical growing season of 175 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 6. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 4b.
- Apr 23Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 6Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 16First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 175 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 21 | May 3 | May 17 |
| 32°F | Apr 9 | Apr 23 | May 6 |
| 28°F | Apr 1 | Apr 13 | Apr 27 |
| 24°F | Mar 21 | Apr 4 | Apr 20 |
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 23 | Oct 5 | Oct 18 |
| 32°F | Oct 2 | Oct 16 | Oct 29 |
| 28°F | Oct 12 | Oct 25 | Nov 7 |
| 24°F | Oct 20 | Nov 4 | Nov 19 |
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 | 136 days | 155 days | 173 days |
| 32°F | 155 days | 175 days | 193 days |
| 28°F | 175 days | 194 days | 212 days |
| 24°F | 192 days | 212 days | 233 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55959 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 5 km |
| 55969 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 10 km |
| 54622 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 13 km |
| 55910 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 13 km |
| 55972 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 27 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 USC00215488, at 44.1600, -91.8122, elevation 204 m (670 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 18 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 140.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Winona Dam 5 A (14 km)
- Winona (19 km)
- Theilman 1ssw (33 km)
- Rushford (40 km)
- La Crescent Dam 7 (52 km)
- Preston (58 km)
- Rochester Intl Airport (61 km)
- Caledonia (64 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.