Frost dates for Rapid City 4nw, SD
At Rapid City 4nw, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 10 and the median first fall frost is Oct 5, for a typical growing season of 147 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 25. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5a.
- May 10Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 25Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 5First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 147 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 8 | May 21 | Jun 1 |
| 32°F | Apr 27 | May 10 | May 25 |
| 28°F | Apr 13 | Apr 28 | May 11 |
| 24°F | Apr 2 | Apr 16 | Apr 30 |
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 11 | Sep 27 | Oct 10 |
| 32°F | Sep 20 | Oct 5 | Oct 18 |
| 28°F | Sep 28 | Oct 15 | Oct 28 |
| 24°F | Oct 8 | 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 | 109 days | 127 days | 146 days |
| 32°F | 127 days | 147 days | 166 days |
| 28°F | 146 days | 168 days | 188 days |
| 24°F | 167 days | 188 days | 209 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 57718 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 9 km |
| 57769 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 14 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 USC00396947, at 44.1206, -103.2842, elevation 1060 m (3,479 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 25 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 170.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Rapid City WFO (8 km)
- Johnson Siding (13 km)
- Pactola Dam (17 km)
- Rapid City Regional Airport (20 km)
- Hereford 12 SW (27 km)
- Hill City (30 km)
- Mount Rushmore Nmem (30 km)
- Fort Meade (36 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.