Frost Dates for 56308 — Alexandria, Minnesota

Half of springs at Alexandria Municipal Airport, 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 15. Planting tender crops after May 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 10 20%, and after May 15 10%. The 13 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 61% of the 142 Minnesota stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 8 in half of years, as early as September 27 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 19; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 4, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 159 days in a typical year, longer than at 74% of the 142 Minnesota stations; it reaches 177 days one year in ten and falls short of 140 one year in ten. On average 167 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 30. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 12 and April 1.

July is the warmest month at Alexandria Municipal Airport, MN, averaging 80°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 19°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 55% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,347 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 57% of the 142 Minnesota stations. 32% of them (750) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 637. Precipitation totals 24.1 inches a year, most in July (4.0") and least in January (0.4"); May to September bring 70% of it.

The nearest other station, Glenwood 2WNW, MN, 16 miles south of Alexandria and 218 feet lower, has a last frost 9 days later (May 11), a first frost 11 days earlier (September 27), a season 20 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Alexandria usually arrives around November 10, and the last of the season around April 11. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Glenwood 2WNW, MN, 16 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 21 days after the last snow.

ZIP 56308 is 1 mile from Alexandria Municipal Airport, MN, which stands at 1,416 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 56308 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.