Frost Dates for 56150 — Lakefield, Minnesota

Half of springs at Lakefield 2NE, MN see their last 32°F night by May 2; only one in ten is past it by April 18, and one in ten still has one after May 13. Planting tender crops after May 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 8 20%, and after May 13 10%. The 11 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is the narrowest of the 142 Minnesota stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 2 in half of years, as early as September 19 one year in ten, and holds off past October 17 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 14; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 5, 8 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 171 days one year in ten and falls short of 136 one year in ten. On average 168 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 24. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 10 and March 30.

July is the warmest month at Lakefield 2NE, MN, averaging 81°F by day and 60°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 2,487 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 58% of the 142 Minnesota stations. 34% of them (838) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 646. Precipitation totals 30.5 inches a year, most in May (4.5") and least in January (0.6"); May to September bring 67% of it.

The nearest other station, Spirit Lake, IA, 16 miles south of Lakefield, has a last frost 4 days earlier (April 28), a first frost 9 days later (October 11), a season 11 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Lakefield usually arrives around November 5, and the last of the season around April 13. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Lakefield 2NE, MN, 4.2 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 19 days after the last snow.

ZIP 56150 is 4 miles from Lakefield 2NE, MN, which stands at 1,530 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 56143 (Jackson). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 56150 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.