Frost Dates for 56468 — Nisswa, Minnesota

Half of springs at Gull Lake Dam, MN see their last 32°F night by May 2; only one in ten is past it by April 21, and one in ten still has one after May 14. Planting tender crops after May 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 10 20%, and after May 14 10%. The 12 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 85% of the 142 Minnesota stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 6 in half of years, as early as September 25 one year in ten, and holds off past October 21 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around October 19; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 4, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 156 days in a typical year, longer than at 67% of the 142 Minnesota stations; it reaches 173 days one year in ten and falls short of 140 one year in ten. On average 175 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 28. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 14 and April 1.

July is the warmest month at Gull Lake Dam, MN, averaging 79°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 18°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 59% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,192 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 65% of the 142 Minnesota stations. 32% of them (698) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 618. Precipitation totals 27.0 inches a year, most in July (4.4") and least in January (0.6"); May to September bring 66% of it.

The nearest other station, Brainerd Crow Wing Co Airport, MN, 10 miles southeast of Nisswa, has a last frost 11 days later (May 13), a first frost 9 days earlier (September 27), a season 18 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Nisswa usually arrives around November 12, and the last of the season around April 13. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Gull Lake Dam, MN, 7.1 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 19 days after the last snow.

ZIP 56468 is 7 miles from Gull Lake Dam, MN, which stands at 1,215 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 56468 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.