Frost Dates for 55350 — Hutchinson, Minnesota

Half of springs at Hutchinson 1 N, MN see their last 32°F night by April 28; only one in ten is past it by April 15, and one in ten still has one after May 10. Planting tender crops after May 3 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 6 20%, and after May 10 10%. The 12 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 85% of the 142 Minnesota stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 8 in half of years, as early as September 25 one year in ten, and holds off past October 23 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 19; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 2, 8 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 163 days in a typical year, longer than at 84% of the 142 Minnesota stations; it reaches 183 days one year in ten and falls short of 143 one year in ten. On average 162 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 8 days longer, to about May 6, and return around September 30. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 15 and March 23.

July is the warmest month at Hutchinson 1 N, MN, averaging 83°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 22°F and 5°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 39% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,758 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 88% of the 142 Minnesota stations. 34% of them (932) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 702. Precipitation totals 29.9 inches a year, most in August (4.8") and least in January (0.6"); May to September bring 68% of it.

The nearest other station, Dassel 3SE, MN, 11 miles northeast of Hutchinson, has a last frost 2 days later (April 30), a first frost 2 days later (October 10), a season 1 day shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Hutchinson usually arrives around November 10, and the last of the season around April 4. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Hutchinson 1 N, MN, 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 24 days after the last snow.

ZIP 55350 is 1 mile from Hutchinson 1 N, MN, which stands at 1,095 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 55350 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.