Frost Dates for 55927 — Dodge Center, Minnesota

Half of springs at Byron 4north, MN see their last 32°F night by May 12; only one in ten is past it by April 29, and one in ten still has one after May 25. Planting tender crops after May 18 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 21 20%, and after May 25 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 September 28 in half of years, as early as September 14 one year in ten, and holds off past October 10 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 7 days later, around October 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 15, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 139 days in a typical year, shorter than at 80% of the 142 Minnesota stations; it reaches 156 days one year in ten and falls short of 118 one year in ten. On average 176 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 22, and return around September 19. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 4 and April 1.

July is the warmest month at Byron 4north, MN, averaging 81°F by day and 58°F at night; January is the coldest at 23°F and 4°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 85% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,272 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 62% of the 142 Minnesota stations. 33% of them (755) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 609. Precipitation totals 35.9 inches a year, most in June (5.3") and least in January (1.0"); May to September bring 63% of it.

The nearest other station, Owatonna, MN, 19 miles west of Dodge Center, has a last frost 7 days earlier (May 5), a first frost 8 days later (October 6), a season 15 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Dodge Center usually arrives around November 16, and the last of the season around March 25. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Byron 4north, MN, 12.2 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 48 days after the last snow.

ZIP 55927 is 12 miles from Byron 4north, MN, which stands at 1,041 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 6 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 55901 (Rochester). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 55927 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.