Frost dates for Valentine #1, NE
At Valentine #1, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 6 and the median first fall frost is Oct 4, for a typical growing season of 149 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 19. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 5a to 5b.
- May 6Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 19Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 4First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 149 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 4 | May 15 | May 27 |
| 32°F | Apr 24 | May 6 | May 19 |
| 28°F | Apr 12 | Apr 28 | May 12 |
| 24°F | Apr 2 | Apr 16 | May 3 |
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 12 | Sep 26 | Oct 7 |
| 32°F | Sep 22 | Oct 4 | Oct 16 |
| 28°F | Sep 30 | Oct 13 | Oct 25 |
| 24°F | Oct 7 | Oct 22 | Nov 3 |
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 | 115 days | 133 days | 149 days |
| 32°F | 131 days | 149 days | 168 days |
| 28°F | 148 days | 167 days | 188 days |
| 24°F | 166 days | 186 days | 206 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
Closest ZIP codes (each is closer to another station)
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 69201 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 21 km |
| 69212 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 24 km |
| 69220 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 32 km |
| 69221 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 33 km |
| 69216 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 38 km |
| 69219 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 43 km |
| 57555 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 47 km |
| 57570 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 50 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 USC00258751, at 42.8753, -100.5517, elevation 789 m (2,589 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 19 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 162.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Valentine Miller Field (0 km)
- Kilgore 1ne (33 km)
- Valentine Nwr (36 km)
- Springview 2nw (63 km)
- Ainsworth (67 km)
- Elsmere 9 ENE (90 km)
- Purdum (93 km)
- Merriman (94 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.