Frost Dates for 52052 — Guttenberg, Iowa

Half of springs at Guttenberg L&D 10, IA see their last 32°F night by April 21; only one in ten is past it by April 7, 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 2 20%, and after May 6 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 82% of the 132 Iowa stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 18 in half of years, as early as October 4 one year in ten, and holds off past October 30 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 27; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 26, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 178 days in a typical year, longer than at 84% of the 132 Iowa stations; it reaches 196 days one year in ten and falls short of 158 one year in ten. On average 133 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 12 days longer, to about May 3, and return around October 7. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 23 and March 15.

July is the warmest month at Guttenberg L&D 10, IA, averaging 84°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 28°F and 10°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 26% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,064 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 57% of the 132 Iowa stations. 35% of them (1,060) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 742. Precipitation totals 37.4 inches a year, most in June (5.7") and least in February (1.2"); May to September bring 60% of it.

The nearest other station, Lancaster 4 WSW, WI, 17 miles east of Guttenberg and 422 feet higher, has a last frost 6 days later (April 27), a first frost 7 days earlier (October 11), a season 12 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Guttenberg usually arrives around December 2, and the last of the season around March 15. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Guttenberg L&D 10, IA, 1.7 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 37 days after the last snow.

ZIP 52052 is 2 miles from Guttenberg L&D 10, IA, which stands at 618 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 52052 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.