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USDA Hardiness Zone 5a

Frost Dates for 55435 — Edina, Minnesota

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Minneapolis/St Paul Airport, MN (872 ft), 5 miles east.

Updated

In Edina, 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 18, as early as October 1 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 176 days (NOAA, Minneapolis/St Paul Airport, MN).

Last spring frost
April 23

50% probability

First fall frost
October 18

50% probability

Growing season
176 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
5a

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

First snow
November 9

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 12

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

26 of 26 observed

Snow per year
51.2"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Edina

Half of springs at Minneapolis/St Paul Airport, MN see their last 32°F night by April 23; only one in ten is past it by April 8, and one in ten still has one after May 7. Planting tender crops after April 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 2 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 18 in half of years, as early as October 1 one year in ten, and holds off past October 31 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 29; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 28, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 176 days in a typical year, longer than at 96% of the 142 Minnesota stations; it reaches 196 days one year in ten and falls short of 158 one year in ten. On average 147 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 10 days longer, to about May 3, and return around October 6. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 20 and March 20.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 20Apr 25Apr 29May 1May 3May 5May 8May 13May 17
32°FApr 8Apr 13Apr 17Apr 20Apr 23Apr 26Apr 30May 2May 7
28°FApr 1Apr 4Apr 7Apr 10Apr 13Apr 16Apr 19Apr 22Apr 28
24°FMar 21Mar 27Mar 31Apr 2Apr 4Apr 7Apr 9Apr 13Apr 18
20°FMar 13Mar 18Mar 22Mar 25Mar 29Apr 1Apr 3Apr 6Apr 11
16°FMar 6Mar 11Mar 14Mar 17Mar 20Mar 23Mar 27Mar 31Apr 3
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 28Oct 1Oct 4Oct 6Oct 9Oct 12Oct 16Oct 20
32°FOct 1Oct 7Oct 11Oct 15Oct 18Oct 21Oct 23Oct 27Oct 31
28°FOct 15Oct 20Oct 24Oct 26Oct 29Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 11
24°FOct 25Oct 30Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 9Nov 11Nov 15Nov 19
20°FNov 1Nov 5Nov 8Nov 11Nov 13Nov 16Nov 19Nov 22Nov 27
16°FNov 6Nov 11Nov 15Nov 18Nov 20Nov 23Nov 26Nov 30Dec 5

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Minneapolis/St Paul Airport, 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 55435 →Compare Edina with another place →

Weather by month in Edina

July is the warmest month at Minneapolis/St Paul Airport, MN, averaging 83°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 24°F and 9°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 25% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,966 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 97% of the 142 Minnesota stations. 34% of them (998) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 755. Precipitation totals 31.7 inches a year, most in June (4.6") and least in January (0.9"); May to September bring 63% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Minneapolis/St Paul Airport, MN
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan2490.9100%310
Feb29130.9100%270
Mar42251.7100%2413
Apr57382.998%982
May69503.925%1313
Jun79604.60%0591
Jul83654.10%0755
Aug81634.30%0674
Sep73543.08%<1413
Oct58412.689%6114
Nov42281.6100%2112
Dec29151.2100%300

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Minneapolis/St Paul Airport, MN (872 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, Mpls Flying Cloud Airport, MN, 7 miles southwest of Edina, has the same 50% last-frost date, a first frost 4 days earlier (October 14), a season 4 days shorter.

Frost dates for 55379 (Shakopee) →

When it snows in Edina, Minnesota

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Edina usually arrives around November 9, and the last of the season around April 12. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Minneapolis/St Paul Airport, MN, 5.2 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 11 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 55435

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Edina, 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 26Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 4Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 18 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 55435 is 5 miles from Minneapolis/St Paul Airport, MN, which stands at 872 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 12 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 55337 (Burnsville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 55435 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