Frost Dates for 55037 — Hinckley, Minnesota

Half of springs at Hinckley, MN see their last 32°F night by May 16; only one in ten is past it by May 3, and one in ten still has one after May 30. Planting tender crops after May 22 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 25 20%, and after May 30 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 37% of the 142 Minnesota stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by September 24 in half of years, as early as September 9 one year in ten, and holds off past October 6 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around October 2; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 20, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 130 days in a typical year, shorter than at 92% of the 142 Minnesota stations; it reaches 150 days one year in ten and falls short of 111 one year in ten. On average 183 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 28, and return around September 15. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 7 and April 4.

July is the warmest month at Hinckley, MN, averaging 79°F by day and 55°F at night; January is the coldest at 19°F and -1°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to May (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,819 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 89% of the 142 Minnesota stations. 30% of them (555) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 531. Precipitation totals 33.1 inches a year, most in June (4.6") and least in February (0.9"); May to September bring 62% of it.

The nearest other station, Sandstone 6 W, MN, 12 miles northwest of Hinckley, has a last frost 3 days earlier (May 13), a first frost 5 days later (September 29), a season 7 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Hinckley usually arrives around November 7, and the last of the season around April 9. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Hinckley, MN, 9.6 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 55037 is 10 miles from Hinckley, MN, which stands at 1,035 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 55063 (Pine City). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 55037 in zone 4a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -30 to -25°F (-34.4 to -31.7°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.