Frost Dates for 56071 — New Prague, Minnesota

Half of springs at Jordan 1SSW, MN see their last 32°F night by May 2; only one in ten is past it by April 17, and one in ten still has one after May 18. Planting tender crops after May 9 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 12 20%, and after May 18 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 77% of the 142 Minnesota stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 5 in half of years, as early as September 21 one year in ten, and holds off past October 19 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 16; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 7, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 153 days in a typical year, longer than at 57% of the 142 Minnesota stations; it reaches 173 days one year in ten and falls short of 135 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 11, and return around September 27. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 14 and March 27.

July is the warmest month at Jordan 1SSW, MN, averaging 81°F by day and 61°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 57% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,478 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 55% of the 142 Minnesota stations. 33% of them (824) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 648. Precipitation totals 33.6 inches a year, most in August (5.2") and least in January (0.8"); May to September bring 65% of it.

The nearest other station, Chaska 2NW, MN, 19 miles north of New Prague, has a last frost 3 days later (May 5), the same first-frost date, a season 2 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in New Prague usually arrives around November 13, and the last of the season around April 4. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Montgomery, MN, 7.3 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 28 days after the last snow.

ZIP 56071 is 8 miles from Jordan 1SSW, MN, which stands at 900 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 56071 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.