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USDA Hardiness Zone 5a

Frost Dates for 55110 — White Bear Lake, Minnesota

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Vadnais Lake, MN (890 ft), 5 miles southwest.

Updated

In White Bear Lake, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 23 in half of years and has passed by May 7 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 20, as early as October 3 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 177 days (NOAA, Vadnais Lake, MN).

Last spring frost
April 23

50% probability

First fall frost
October 20

50% probability

Growing season
177 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
5a

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

First snow
November 27

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 24

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

28 of 28 observed

Snow per year
—

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in White Bear Lake

Half of springs at Vadnais Lake, MN see their last 32°F night by April 23; only one in ten is past it by April 9, and one in ten still has one after May 7. Planting tender crops after April 29 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 7 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 October 20 in half of years, as early as October 3 one year in ten, and holds off past November 2 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 31; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 27, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 177 days in a typical year, longer than at 97% of the 142 Minnesota stations; it reaches 197 days one year in ten and falls short of 159 one year in ten. On average 157 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 9 days longer, to about May 2, and return around October 7. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 21 and March 24.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 19Apr 24Apr 27Apr 30May 2May 4May 8May 12May 16
32°FApr 9Apr 14Apr 17Apr 21Apr 23Apr 26Apr 29May 1May 7
28°FApr 2Apr 6Apr 9Apr 11Apr 14Apr 16Apr 20Apr 23Apr 27
24°FMar 24Mar 30Apr 1Apr 4Apr 7Apr 9Apr 12Apr 16Apr 21
20°FMar 15Mar 21Mar 25Mar 29Mar 31Apr 2Apr 5Apr 9Apr 16
16°FMar 9Mar 13Mar 17Mar 20Mar 24Mar 27Mar 31Apr 2Apr 7
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 24Sep 29Oct 2Oct 5Oct 7Oct 10Oct 13Oct 17Oct 20
32°FOct 3Oct 8Oct 12Oct 16Oct 20Oct 23Oct 25Oct 29Nov 2
28°FOct 15Oct 21Oct 25Oct 28Oct 31Nov 2Nov 4Nov 7Nov 12
24°FOct 27Oct 31Nov 1Nov 4Nov 6Nov 8Nov 12Nov 15Nov 21
20°FNov 1Nov 4Nov 7Nov 11Nov 13Nov 16Nov 19Nov 23Nov 28
16°FNov 7Nov 11Nov 15Nov 18Nov 21Nov 24Nov 26Nov 30Dec 6

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Vadnais Lake, 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 55110 →Compare White Bear Lake with another place →

Weather by month in White Bear Lake

July is the warmest month at Vadnais Lake, MN, averaging 83°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 25°F and 8°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November 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 23% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,946 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 96% of the 142 Minnesota stations. 34% of them (995) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 728. Precipitation totals 33.1 inches a year, most in June (4.5") and least in January (0.8"); May to September bring 63% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Vadnais Lake, MN
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan2580.8100%310
Feb30110.8100%270
Mar42241.5100%2511
Apr57373.199%1380
May69504.323%1321
Jun79604.50%0582
Jul83644.50%0728
Aug81624.50%0668
Sep73543.15%1417
Oct59423.186%8124
Nov43281.8100%2214
Dec30161.1100%300

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Vadnais Lake, MN (890 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, Stillwater 2SW, MN, 8 miles east of White Bear Lake, has a last frost 7 days later (April 30), a first frost 9 days earlier (October 11), a season 14 days shorter.

Frost dates for 55082 (Stillwater) →

When it snows in White Bear Lake, Minnesota

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in White Bear Lake usually arrives around November 27, and the last of the season around March 24. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Vadnais Lake, MN, 4.7 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 30 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 55110

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for White Bear Lake, Minnesota
WhenWhat to do
February 12 – February 26Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 26 – March 12Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 26 – April 9Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 23 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 28Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 6Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 20 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 55110 is 5 miles from Vadnais Lake, MN, which stands at 890 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 55112 (New Brighton). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 55110 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