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USDA Hardiness Zone 5a

Frost Dates for 55024 — Farmington, Minnesota

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Farmington 3 NW, MN (980 ft), 2 miles northwest.

Updated

In Farmington, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 27 in half of years and has passed by May 10 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 10, as early as September 27 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 166 days (NOAA, Farmington 3 NW, MN).

Last spring frost
April 27

50% probability

First fall frost
October 10

50% probability

Growing season
166 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
5a

-20 to -15°F (-28.9 to -26.1°C) coldest night

First snow
November 8

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 5

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

19 of 19 observed

Snow per year
41"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Farmington

Half of springs at Farmington 3 NW, MN see their last 32°F night by April 27; only one in ten is past it by April 12, and one in ten still has one after May 10. Planting tender crops after May 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 5 20%, and after May 10 10%. The 13 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 61% of the 142 Minnesota stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 10 in half of years, as early as September 27 one year in ten, and holds off past October 25 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 22; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 29, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 166 days in a typical year, longer than at 88% of the 142 Minnesota stations; it reaches 186 days one year in ten and falls short of 147 one year in ten. On average 150 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 7, and return around October 2. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 17 and March 21.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 23Apr 29May 1May 4May 7May 9May 12May 16May 21
32°FApr 12Apr 17Apr 20Apr 23Apr 27Apr 29May 2May 5May 10
28°FApr 2Apr 6Apr 9Apr 12Apr 15Apr 18Apr 21Apr 24Apr 29
24°FMar 23Mar 30Apr 2Apr 4Apr 6Apr 8Apr 11Apr 16Apr 21
20°FMar 13Mar 18Mar 23Mar 27Mar 31Apr 1Apr 4Apr 7Apr 13
16°FMar 7Mar 11Mar 15Mar 18Mar 21Mar 25Mar 29Mar 31Apr 4
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 20Sep 23Sep 27Sep 29Oct 2Oct 4Oct 7Oct 10Oct 15
32°FSep 27Oct 1Oct 4Oct 7Oct 10Oct 13Oct 17Oct 20Oct 25
28°FOct 7Oct 13Oct 17Oct 20Oct 22Oct 25Oct 28Nov 1Nov 5
24°FOct 21Oct 25Oct 29Oct 31Nov 2Nov 5Nov 8Nov 11Nov 16
20°FOct 31Nov 2Nov 5Nov 8Nov 10Nov 12Nov 15Nov 19Nov 24
16°FNov 4Nov 9Nov 11Nov 14Nov 17Nov 20Nov 24Nov 28Dec 3

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Farmington 3 NW, MN, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 55024 →Compare Farmington with another place →

Weather by month in Farmington

July is the warmest month at Farmington 3 NW, MN, averaging 82°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 23°F and 8°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 34% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,692 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 81% of the 142 Minnesota stations. 34% of them (908) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 691. Precipitation totals 32.3 inches a year, most in June (4.9") and least in February (0.8"); May to September bring 64% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Farmington 3 NW, MN
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan2381.1100%310
Feb28120.8100%260
Mar41241.7100%248
Apr56362.799%968
May69483.934%1283
Jun78594.90%0549
Jul82634.20%0691
Aug79604.40%0606
Sep72523.219%<1373
Oct58392.896%6104
Nov42271.6100%2210
Dec28141.0100%300

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Farmington 3 NW, MN (980 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Rosemount Rsch & Outreach Ctr, MN, 5 miles northeast of Farmington, has a last frost 5 days later (May 2), a first frost 5 days earlier (October 5), a season 11 days shorter.

Frost dates for 55068 (Rosemount) →

When it snows in Farmington, Minnesota

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Farmington usually arrives around November 8, and the last of the season around April 5. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Farmington 3 NW, MN, 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 22 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 55024

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Farmington, Minnesota
WhenWhat to do
February 16 – March 2Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 2 – March 16Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 30 – April 13Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 27 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 18Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 26Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 10 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 55024 is 2 miles from Farmington 3 NW, MN, which stands at 980 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 55044 (Lakeville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 55024 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.

Frost dates across Minnesota →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 5a places in Minnesota