U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USW00024023 · Nebraska

Frost Dates for North Platte (Airport), NE

NOAA weather station North Platte Regional Airport (USW00024023), Nebraska · elevation 2778 ft (847 m) · hardiness zone 5b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 26only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMay 1150% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 150% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season142 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone5bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at North Platte (Airport), NESpring: a frost after April 30 in 9 years out of 10, after May 11 in half of the years, after May 26 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before September 16 in 1 year out of 10, before October 1 in half of the years, before October 13 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 142 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~May 11First frost ~Oct 1Frost season at North Platte (Airport), NESpring: a frost after April 30 in 9 years out of 10, after May 11 in half of the years, after May 26 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before September 16 in 1 year out of 10, before October 1 in half of the years, before October 13 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 142 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~May 11First frost ~Oct 1
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.Today

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 27 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)May 26September 16
50% (typical)May 11October 1
90% (likely)April 30October 13
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
142 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
May 2
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
October 10

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost May 11 (same as the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 3 (2 days later). Frost-free season 143 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at North Platte (Airport): chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 26, 20% May 19, 30% May 16, 40% May 13, 50% May 11, 60% May 9, 70% May 6, 80% May 3, 90% April 30. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 May 12, 2022 May 22, 2023 May 3, 2024 May 4, 2025 May 17, 2026 May 19.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%May 1Jun 1May 26May 11Apr 302021: May 122022: May 222023: May 32024: May 42025: May 172026: May 19Fall at North Platte (Airport): chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% September 16, 20% September 21, 30% September 25, 40% September 28, 50% October 1, 60% October 4, 70% October 6, 80% October 9, 90% October 13. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 October 14, 2022 October 8, 2023 October 6, 2024 October 1, 2025 October 18.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Sep 16Oct 1Oct 132021: October 142022: October 82023: October 62024: October 12025: October 18
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there. ◆ marks the actual date in each recent year.

What actually happened in recent years

Observed dates of the last spring and first fall frost (32°F) at this station; ◆ marks them on the charts above
YearLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2021May 12October 14
2022May 22October 8
2023May 3October 6
2024May 4October 1
2025May 17October 18
2026May 19season not over yet

What these dates mean

The cautious fall date in North Platte (Airport) for finishing the harvest is September 16, when there is only a 10 % chance that a light frost has arrived.

In spring the cautious date for setting out tender crops is May 26, because only a 10 % chance of a light frost remains after that day; the 50 % median date is May 11, which is not a frost date but marks even odds for a frost. In fall the cautious date to complete tender-crop harvest is September 16, the 10 % chance point, while the 50 % median date is October 1.

A hard frost at 28 °F, indicated by the 50 % dates of May 2 in spring and October 10 in fall, can injure plants that survive the lighter 32 °F frost.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after May 26" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before September 16" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near North Platte (Airport), NENumbered nearest stations: 1 — near North Platte, NE — 6 mi; 2 — Hershey, NE — 16 mi; 3 — Stapleton, NE — 24 mi; 4 — Gothenburg, NE — 30 mi; 5 — Wallace, NE — 34 mi.25 mi · 40 km1. near North Platte, NE — 6 mi12. Hershey, NE — 16 mi23. Stapleton, NE — 24 mi34. Gothenburg, NE — 30 mi45. Wallace, NE — 34 mi5
  1. near North Platte, NE 6 mi (10 km)
  2. Hershey, NE 16 mi (26 km)
  3. Stapleton, NE 24 mi (38 km)
  4. Gothenburg, NE 30 mi (48 km)
  5. Wallace, NE 34 mi (55 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 5b: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 41.1214, -100.6694.