Frost Dates for 56222 — Clara City, Minnesota

Half of springs at Granite Falls, MN see their last 32°F night by May 4; only one in ten is past it by April 21, and one in ten still has one after May 18. Planting tender crops after May 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 13 20%, and after May 18 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 1 in half of years, as early as September 17 one year in ten, and holds off past October 15 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 11; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 9, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 150 days in a typical year, shorter than at 51% of the 142 Minnesota stations; it reaches 168 days one year in ten and falls short of 129 one year in ten. On average 171 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 11 days longer, to about May 15, and return around September 22. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 10 and March 31.

July is the warmest month at Granite Falls, MN, averaging 85°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 24°F and 3°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 66% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,634 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 73% of the 142 Minnesota stations. 33% of them (880) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 694. Precipitation totals 28.8 inches a year, most in June (4.6") and least in January (0.8"); May to September bring 64% of it.

The nearest other station, Willmar Wwtp, MN, 19 miles northeast of Clara City and 170 feet higher, has a last frost 4 days earlier (April 30), a first frost 6 days later (October 7), a season 9 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Clara City usually arrives around November 10, and the last of the season around April 10. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Granite Falls, MN, 14.4 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 24 days after the last snow.

ZIP 56222 is 14 miles from Granite Falls, MN, which stands at 930 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 56241 (Granite Falls). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 56222 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.