Frost Dates for 52076 — Strawberry Point, Iowa

Half of springs at Elkader 6 SSW, IA see their last 32°F night by May 8; only one in ten is past it by April 24, and one in ten still has one after May 22. Planting tender crops after May 14 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 17 20%, and after May 22 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 58% of the 132 Iowa stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 1 in half of years, as early as September 18 one year in ten, and holds off past October 14 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 11; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 13, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 146 days in a typical year, shorter than at 99% of the 132 Iowa stations; it reaches 165 days one year in ten and falls short of 126 one year in ten. On average 164 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 10 days longer, to about May 18, and return around September 23. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 9 and March 27.

July is the warmest month at Elkader 6 SSW, IA, averaging 82°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 26°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 74% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,593 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 93% of the 132 Iowa stations. 34% of them (880) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 654. Precipitation totals 38.9 inches a year, most in June (6.7") and least in January (1.3"); May to September bring 60% of it.

The nearest other station, Manchester #2, IA, 16 miles south of Strawberry Point and 202 feet higher, has a last frost 5 days earlier (May 3), a first frost 3 days later (October 4), a season 8 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Strawberry Point usually arrives around November 19, and the last of the season around March 27. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Strawberry Pt, IA, 1.3 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 42 days after the last snow.

ZIP 52076 is 6 miles from Elkader 6 SSW, IA, which stands at 788 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 52076 in zone 4b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -25 to -20°F (-31.7 to -28.9°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.