Frost Dates for 56312 — Belgrade, Minnesota

Half of springs at New London, MN see their last 32°F night by May 4; only one in ten is past it by April 23, and one in ten still has one after May 19. Planting tender crops after May 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 13 20%, and after May 19 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 64% 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 23 one year in ten, and holds off past October 16 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 13; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 9, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 152 days in a typical year, longer than at 53% of the 142 Minnesota stations; it reaches 169 days one year in ten and falls short of 134 one year in ten. On average 165 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 13, and return around September 27. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 10 and April 3.

July is the warmest month at New London, MN, averaging 82°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 20°F and 1°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 65% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,501 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 58% of the 142 Minnesota stations. 32% of them (811) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 665. Precipitation totals 31.5 inches a year, most in June (4.9") and least in January (0.9"); May to September bring 62% of it.

The nearest other station, Melrose, MN, 17 miles northeast of Belgrade, has the same 50% last-frost date, a first frost 3 days earlier (October 1), a season 4 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Belgrade 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 New London, MN, 10.9 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 23 days after the last snow.

ZIP 56312 is 11 miles from New London, MN, which stands at 1,250 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 56362 (Paynesville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 56312 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.