Frost Dates for 56007 — Albert Lea, Minnesota

Half of springs at Albert Lea 3SE, MN see their last 32°F night by April 27; only one in ten is past it by April 12, 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 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 26 one year in ten, and holds off past October 23 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 19; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 30, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 164 days in a typical year, longer than at 87% of the 142 Minnesota stations; it reaches 183 days one year in ten and falls short of 145 one year in ten. On average 159 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 7, and return around October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 16 and March 22.

July is the warmest month at Albert Lea 3SE, MN, averaging 82°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 23°F and 6°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 37% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,685 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 80% of the 142 Minnesota stations. 34% of them (913) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 683. Precipitation totals 35.7 inches a year, most in June (5.4") and least in January (0.9"); May to September bring 65% of it.

The nearest other station, Northwood, IA, 16 miles southeast of Albert Lea, has a last frost 7 days later (May 4), a first frost 5 days earlier (October 4), a season 12 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Albert Lea usually arrives around November 14, and the last of the season around April 3. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Albert Lea 3SE, MN, 4.6 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 56007 is 5 miles from Albert Lea 3SE, MN, which stands at 1,230 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 56007 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.