Frost Dates for 55362 — Monticello, Minnesota

Half of springs at Buffalo 2NE, MN see their last 32°F night by April 30; only one in ten is past it by April 15, and one in ten still has one after May 13. Planting tender crops after May 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 7 20%, and after May 13 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 9 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 12 days later, around October 21; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 2, 11 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 182 days one year in ten and falls short of 142 one year in ten. On average 163 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 9, and return around October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 16 and March 25.

July is the warmest month at Buffalo 2NE, MN, averaging 81°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 21°F and 3°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 45% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,462 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 53% of the 142 Minnesota stations. 33% of them (810) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 652. Precipitation totals 31.6 inches a year, most in August (4.5") and least in January (0.7"); May to September bring 66% of it.

The nearest other station, Elk Rvr, MN, 11 miles east of Monticello, has a last frost 4 days later (May 4), a first frost 4 days earlier (October 5), a season 9 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Monticello usually arrives around November 13, and the last of the season around April 9. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Buffalo 2NE, MN, 7.4 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 21 days after the last snow.

ZIP 55362 is 7 miles from Buffalo 2NE, MN, which stands at 992 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 55313 (Buffalo). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 55362 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.