Frost dates for Red Cloud, NE
At Red Cloud, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 1 and the median first fall frost is Oct 5, for a typical growing season of 157 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 14. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 5b to 6a.
- May 1Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 14Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 5First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 157 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 28 | May 10 | May 25 |
| 32°F | Apr 19 | May 1 | May 14 |
| 28°F | Apr 7 | Apr 22 | May 5 |
| 24°F | Mar 28 | Apr 11 | Apr 27 |
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 15 | Sep 29 | Oct 10 |
| 32°F | Sep 22 | Oct 5 | Oct 19 |
| 28°F | Sep 29 | Oct 16 | Oct 27 |
| 24°F | Oct 10 | Oct 24 | 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 | 120 days | 140 days | 158 days |
| 32°F | 137 days | 157 days | 176 days |
| 28°F | 153 days | 176 days | 196 days |
| 24°F | 172 days | 196 days | 216 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 68970 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 1 km |
| 68952 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 14 km |
| 68942 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 17 km |
| 68928 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 22 km |
| 68930 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 23 km |
| 68957 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 30 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 USC00257070, at 40.0978, -98.5197, elevation 528 m (1,732 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 160.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Franklin #2 (36 km)
- Superior (39 km)
- Hastings Muni Airport (57 km)
- Harlan Co Lake (59 km)
- Minden (59 km)
- Clay Center (61 km)
- Hastings 4n (62 km)
- Ragan (70 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.