Frost dates for Clay Center, NE
At Clay Center, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 19 and the median first fall frost is Oct 20, for a typical growing season of 181 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 3. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6a.
- Apr 19Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 3Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 20First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 181 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 15 | Apr 30 | May 13 |
| 32°F | Apr 5 | Apr 19 | May 3 |
| 28°F | Mar 24 | Apr 7 | Apr 22 |
| 24°F | Mar 12 | Mar 30 | Apr 14 |
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 27 | Oct 10 | Oct 22 |
| 32°F | Oct 3 | Oct 20 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F | Oct 15 | Oct 29 | Nov 11 |
| 24°F | Oct 24 | Nov 6 | Nov 22 |
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 | 143 days | 162 days | 182 days |
| 32°F | 160 days | 181 days | 201 days |
| 28°F | 181 days | 203 days | 222 days |
| 24°F | 202 days | 221 days | 244 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 68933 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 1 km |
| 68938 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 13 km |
| 68944 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 13 km |
| 68975 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 14 km |
| 68935 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 18 km |
| 68979 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 19 km |
| 68941 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 19 km |
| 68934 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 22 km |
| 68452 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 22 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 USC00251684, at 40.5208, -98.0536, elevation 545 m (1,788 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 145.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Hastings 4n (31 km)
- Hastings Muni Airport (33 km)
- Aurora (38 km)
- Geneva (39 km)
- Fairmont (41 km)
- Grand Island Airport (54 km)
- Superior (55 km)
- York (55 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.