Frost Dates for 50833 — Bedford, Iowa

Half of springs at Bedford, IA see their last 32°F night by April 24; only one in ten is past it by April 9, and one in ten still has one after May 6. Planting tender crops after April 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 3 20%, and after May 6 10%. The 12 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 67% of the 132 Iowa stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 15 in half of years, as early as October 1 one year in ten, and holds off past October 29 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 26; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 30, 6 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 173 days in a typical year, longer than at 76% of the 132 Iowa stations; it reaches 192 days one year in ten and falls short of 154 one year in ten. On average 137 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 9 days longer, to about May 3, and return around October 5. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 19 and March 14.

July is the warmest month at Bedford, IA, averaging 86°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°F and 12°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 30% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,336 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 87% of the 132 Iowa stations. 35% of them (1,156) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 790. Precipitation totals 38.4 inches a year, most in June (5.5") and least in January (1.1"); May to September bring 60% of it.

The nearest other station, Clarinda, IA, 17 miles west of Bedford and 210 feet lower, has a last frost 1 day later (April 25), a first frost 4 days earlier (October 11), a season 5 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Bedford usually arrives around December 1, and the last of the season around March 13. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Bedford, IA, 0.7 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 96% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 42 days after the last snow.

ZIP 50833 is under a mile from Bedford, IA, which stands at 1,190 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 50833 in zone 5b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -15 to -10°F (-26.1 to -23.3°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.