Frost Dates for 56097 — Wells, Minnesota

Half of springs at Wells, MN see their last 32°F night by April 30; only one in ten is past it by April 16, and one in ten still has one after May 14. Planting tender crops after May 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 9 20%, and after May 14 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 6 in half of years, as early as September 24 one year in ten, and holds off past October 20 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 17; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 6, 8 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 158 days in a typical year, longer than at 72% of the 142 Minnesota stations; it reaches 178 days one year in ten and falls short of 139 one year in ten. On average 161 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 10, and return around September 29. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 12 and March 26.

July is the warmest month at Wells, MN, averaging 82°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 24°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 50% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,720 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 85% of the 142 Minnesota stations. 34% of them (931) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 682. Precipitation totals 34.6 inches a year, most in June (5.5") and least in January (0.7"); May to September bring 66% of it.

The nearest other station, Winnebago, MN, 22 miles west of Wells, has a last frost 3 days earlier (April 27), a first frost 4 days later (October 10), a season 8 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Wells usually arrives around November 10, and the last of the season around April 5. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Wells, MN, 1.4 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 25 days after the last snow.

ZIP 56097 is 1 mile from Wells, MN, which stands at 1,135 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 56097 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.