Frost Dates for 56277 — Olivia, Minnesota

Half of springs at Olivia 3E, MN see their last 32°F night by May 6; only one in ten is past it by April 23, and one in ten still has one after May 20. Planting tender crops after May 12 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 15 20%, and after May 20 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 15 one year in ten, and holds off past October 14 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 10, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 146 days in a typical year, shorter than at 64% of the 142 Minnesota stations; it reaches 164 days one year in ten and falls short of 127 one year in ten. On average 170 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 15, and return around September 21. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 8 and March 31.

July is the warmest month at Olivia 3E, MN, averaging 82°F by day and 59°F at night; January is the coldest at 21°F and 2°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 73% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,403 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 51% of the 142 Minnesota stations. 34% of them (816) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 635. Precipitation totals 27.9 inches a year, most in June (4.9") and least in January (0.6"); May to September bring 65% of it.

The nearest other station, Redwood Falls, MN, 16 miles south of Olivia, has a last frost 6 days earlier (April 30), a first frost 9 days later (October 10), a season 16 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Olivia usually arrives around November 14, and the last of the season around April 10. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Olivia 3E, MN, 3.3 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 26 days after the last snow.

ZIP 56277 is 3 miles from Olivia 3E, MN, which stands at 1,100 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 56277 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.