Frost Dates for 50438 — Garner, Iowa

Half of springs at Britt 3E, IA see their last 32°F night by April 29; only one in ten is past it by April 14, and one in ten still has one after May 10. Planting tender crops after May 3 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 5 20%, and after May 10 10%. The 11 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 88% of the 132 Iowa stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 7 in half of years, as early as September 24 one year in ten, and holds off past October 20 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 17; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 2, 8 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 161 days in a typical year, shorter than at 67% of the 132 Iowa stations; it reaches 179 days one year in ten and falls short of 144 one year in ten. On average 160 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 8 days longer, to about May 7, and return around September 30. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 14 and March 23.

July is the warmest month at Britt 3E, IA, averaging 82°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 24°F and 6°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 42% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,691 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 86% of the 132 Iowa stations. 34% of them (922) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 688. Precipitation totals 34.3 inches a year, most in June (5.4") and least in January (0.8"); May to September bring 61% of it.

The nearest other station, Forest City 2 NNE, IA, 13 miles north of Garner, has a last frost 1 day later (April 30), the same first-frost date, a season 2 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Garner usually arrives around November 8, and the last of the season around April 1. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Britt 3E, IA, 6.8 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 28 days after the last snow.

ZIP 50438 is 7 miles from Britt 3E, IA, which stands at 1,220 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 50438 in zone 5a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -20 to -15°F (-28.9 to -26.1°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.