USDA Hardiness Zone 4a
Frost Dates for 56444 — Deerwood, Minnesota
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Brainerd Crow Wing Co Airport, MN (1,221 ft), 12 miles west.
Updated
In Deerwood, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 13 in half of years and has passed by May 27 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around September 27, as early as September 14 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 138 days (NOAA, Brainerd Crow Wing Co Airport, MN).
- Last spring frost
- May 13
- First fall frost
- September 27
- Growing season
- 138 days
- Hardiness zone
- 4a
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
-30 to -25°F (-34.4 to -31.7°C) coldest night
- First snow
- November 2
- Last snow
- April 12
- Winters with snow
- 100%
- Snow per year
- —
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
15 of 15 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Deerwood
Half of springs at Brainerd Crow Wing Co Airport, MN see their last 32°F night by May 13; only one in ten is past it by April 29, and one in ten still has one after May 27. Planting tender crops after May 19 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 23 20%, and after May 27 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 September 27 in half of years, as early as September 14 one year in ten, and holds off past October 12 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 8; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 17, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 138 days in a typical year, shorter than at 81% of the 142 Minnesota stations; it reaches 157 days one year in ten and falls short of 117 one year in ten. On average 173 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 24, and return around September 19. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 9 and April 4.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 8 | May 14 | May 18 | May 21 | May 24 | May 27 | May 29 | Jun 1 | Jun 6 |
| 32°F | Apr 29 | May 3 | May 6 | May 9 | May 13 | May 16 | May 19 | May 23 | May 27 |
| 28°F | Apr 17 | Apr 23 | Apr 26 | Apr 30 | May 2 | May 4 | May 7 | May 11 | May 17 |
| 24°F | Apr 7 | Apr 12 | Apr 16 | Apr 19 | Apr 21 | Apr 24 | Apr 27 | May 1 | May 6 |
| 20°F | Mar 31 | Apr 3 | Apr 5 | Apr 8 | Apr 11 | Apr 15 | Apr 18 | Apr 21 | Apr 25 |
| 16°F | Mar 20 | Mar 25 | Mar 30 | Apr 2 | Apr 4 | Apr 6 | Apr 9 | Apr 13 | Apr 20 |
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Sep 4 | Sep 10 | Sep 14 | Sep 16 | Sep 19 | Sep 21 | Sep 24 | Sep 27 | Oct 1 |
| 32°F | Sep 14 | Sep 18 | Sep 22 | Sep 25 | Sep 27 | Sep 30 | Oct 3 | Oct 7 | Oct 12 |
| 28°F | Sep 22 | Sep 28 | Oct 2 | Oct 5 | Oct 8 | Oct 11 | Oct 14 | Oct 19 | Oct 22 |
| 24°F | Oct 4 | Oct 11 | Oct 14 | Oct 19 | Oct 22 | Oct 24 | Oct 28 | Oct 31 | Nov 3 |
| 20°F | Oct 19 | Oct 23 | Oct 28 | Oct 31 | Nov 1 | Nov 4 | Nov 6 | Nov 10 | Nov 15 |
| 16°F | Oct 30 | Nov 1 | Nov 4 | Nov 6 | Nov 9 | Nov 12 | Nov 15 | Nov 19 | Nov 23 |
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Brainerd Crow Wing Co Airport, MN, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.
Frost risk on any date in 56444 →Compare Deerwood with another place →
Frost risk through the year in Deerwood
In Deerwood, the spring curve drops under 10% on May 27 and the fall curve passes 10% on September 14, 110 days later; that gap is shorter than at 82% of the 142 Minnesota stations with frost dates. The spring risk falls from 90% to 10% over 28 days (April 29 to May 27) and the fall risk climbs from 10% to 90% over 28 days (September 14 to October 12): both ends of the season vary about as much. At Aitkin 2E, MN, 12 miles northeast, the same gap runs from June 1 to September 12, 7 days shorter.
| Planted on | Another 32°F night | 28°F night |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 29 | over 90% | 63% |
| May 6 | 70% | 33% |
| May 1350% date | 50% | 17% |
| May 20 | 28% | under 10% |
| May 27 | under 10% | under 10% |
| Jun 3 | under 10% | under 10% |
Weather by month in Deerwood
July is the warmest month at Brainerd Crow Wing Co Airport, MN, averaging 82°F by day and 58°F at night; January is the coldest at 21°F and 0°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 85% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 2,187 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 67% of the 142 Minnesota stations. 32% of them (701) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 607. Precipitation totals 24.8 inches a year, most in July (4.4") and least in February (0.4"); May to September bring 70% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21 | 0 | 0.5 | 100% | 31 | 0 |
| Feb | 27 | 4 | 0.4 | 100% | 27 | 0 |
| Mar | 40 | 18 | 1.0 | 100% | 27 | 5 |
| Apr | 55 | 31 | 1.6 | 100% | 16 | 37 |
| May | 68 | 43 | 3.3 | 85% | 3 | 204 |
| Jun | 77 | 53 | 4.0 | 3% | 0 | 455 |
| Jul | 82 | 58 | 4.4 | 0% | 0 | 607 |
| Aug | 79 | 55 | 3.1 | 0% | 0 | 535 |
| Sep | 71 | 47 | 2.6 | 62% | 2 | 280 |
| Oct | 56 | 35 | 2.4 | 100% | 12 | 60 |
| Nov | 40 | 22 | 0.9 | 100% | 25 | 3 |
| Dec | 26 | 8 | 0.6 | 100% | 30 | 0 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Brainerd Crow Wing Co Airport, MN (1,221 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.
Compared with the next station
The nearest other station, Aitkin 2E, MN, 12 miles northeast of Deerwood, has a last frost 3 days later (May 16), a first frost 1 day later (September 28), a season 5 days shorter.
When it snows in Deerwood, Minnesota
The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Deerwood usually arrives around November 2, and the last of the season around April 12. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Aitkin 2E, MN, 12.2 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 31 days after the last snow.
Planting calendar for 56444
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| March 4 – March 18 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| March 18 – April 1 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| April 15 – April 29 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| May 13 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by July 5 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by September 13 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| September 27 onward | Plant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter. |
The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.
Where these figures come from
ZIP 56444 is 12 miles from Brainerd Crow Wing Co Airport, MN, which stands at 1,221 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 56444 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.
Frost dates across Minnesota →
Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.
Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.