Frost Dates for 55032 — Harris, Minnesota

Half of springs at Cambridge, MN see their last 32°F night by May 2; only one in ten is past it by April 17, and one in ten still has one after May 20. Planting tender crops after May 9 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 13 20%, and after May 20 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 92% of the 142 Minnesota stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 4 in half of years, as early as September 20 one year in ten, and holds off past October 19 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 15; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 6, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 153 days in a typical year, longer than at 57% of the 142 Minnesota stations; it reaches 175 days one year in ten and falls short of 131 one year in ten. On average 171 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 11 days longer, to about May 13, and return around September 26. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 15 and March 28.

July is the warmest month at Cambridge, MN, averaging 82°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 22°F and 4°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 56% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,484 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 56% of the 142 Minnesota stations. 33% of them (821) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 659. Precipitation totals 29.6 inches a year, most in June (4.2") and least in January (0.7"); May to September bring 63% of it.

The nearest other station, Wild Rvr Sp, MN, 13 miles east of Harris, has a last frost 17 days later (May 19), a first frost 9 days earlier (September 25), a season 25 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Harris 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 Cambridge, MN, 11 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 91% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 36 days after the last snow.

ZIP 55032 is 11 miles from Cambridge, MN, which stands at 965 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 55008 (Cambridge). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 55032 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.