Frost Dates for 56156 — Luverne, Minnesota

Half of springs at Rock Rapids, IA see their last 32°F night by May 1; 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 9 20%, and after May 13 10%. The 12 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 85% of the 142 Minnesota stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 4 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 12 days later, around October 16; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 4, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 156 days in a typical year, longer than at 67% of the 142 Minnesota stations; it reaches 175 days one year in ten and falls short of 137 one year in ten. On average 169 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 10, and return around September 27. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 11 and March 25.

July is the warmest month at Rock Rapids, IA, averaging 85°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 25°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 52% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,824 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 92% of the 142 Minnesota stations. 34% of them (963) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 721. Precipitation totals 29.1 inches a year, most in June (5.0") and least in January (0.6"); May to September bring 65% of it.

The nearest other station, Sioux Falls 14 NNE, SD, 20 miles west of Luverne and 244 feet higher, has the same 50% last-frost date, the same first-frost date, a season 1 day shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Luverne usually arrives around November 11, and the last of the season around April 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Rock Rapids, IA, 15.8 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 56156 is 16 miles from Rock Rapids, IA, which stands at 1,350 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 56156 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.