Frost Dates for 56442 — Crosslake, Minnesota

Half of springs at Pine Rvr Dam, MN see their last 32°F night by May 6; only one in ten is past it by April 26, and one in ten still has one after May 19. Planting tender crops after May 11 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 15 20%, and after May 19 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 7 in half of years, as early as September 24 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 18; 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 135 one year in ten. On average 178 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 10 days longer, to about May 16, and return around September 27. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 14 and April 3.

July is the warmest month at Pine Rvr Dam, MN, averaging 80°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 19°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 78% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,154 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 68% of the 142 Minnesota stations. 31% of them (669) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 611. Precipitation totals 28.8 inches a year, most in June (4.5") and least in February (0.7"); May to September bring 64% of it.

The nearest other station, Brainerd Crow Wing Co Airport, MN, 18 miles south of Crosslake, has a last frost 7 days later (May 13), a first frost 10 days earlier (September 27), a season 14 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Crosslake usually arrives around November 13, and the last of the season around April 1. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Pine Rvr Dam, MN, 0.1 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 35 days after the last snow.

ZIP 56442 is under a mile from Pine Rvr Dam, MN, which stands at 1,250 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 56472 (Pequot Lakes). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 56442 in zone 4a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -30 to -25°F (-34.4 to -31.7°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.