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USDA Hardiness Zone 4a

Frost Dates for 56477 — Sebeka, Minnesota

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Wadena 3 S, MN (1,372 ft), 18 miles south.

Updated

In Sebeka, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 10 in half of years and has passed by May 25 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around September 30, as early as September 17 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 141 days (NOAA, Wadena 3 S, MN).

Last spring frost
May 10

50% probability

First fall frost
September 30

50% probability

Growing season
141 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
4a

-30 to -25°F (-34.4 to -31.7°C) coldest night

First snow
November 10

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 12

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

19 of 19 observed

Snow per year
50.8"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Sebeka

Half of springs at Wadena 3 S, MN see their last 32°F night by May 10; only one in ten is past it by April 29, and one in ten still has one after May 25. Planting tender crops after May 15 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 19 20%, and after May 25 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 September 30 in half of years, as early as September 17 one year in ten, and holds off past October 13 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 13, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 141 days in a typical year, shorter than at 75% of the 142 Minnesota stations; it reaches 160 days one year in ten and falls short of 122 one year in ten. On average 183 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 20, and return around September 21. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 9 and April 3.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMay 7May 11May 15May 18May 20May 24May 27May 30Jun 2
32°FApr 29May 2May 4May 7May 10May 13May 15May 19May 25
28°FApr 18Apr 22Apr 26Apr 29Apr 30May 2May 5May 8May 13
24°FApr 6Apr 10Apr 14Apr 17Apr 20Apr 23Apr 26Apr 29May 2
20°FMar 28Apr 2Apr 5Apr 7Apr 10Apr 12Apr 15Apr 18Apr 22
16°FMar 19Mar 25Mar 30Apr 1Apr 3Apr 5Apr 9Apr 11Apr 16
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 9Sep 13Sep 17Sep 19Sep 21Sep 24Sep 27Sep 30Oct 3
32°FSep 17Sep 21Sep 24Sep 27Sep 30Oct 2Oct 5Oct 9Oct 13
28°FSep 25Sep 30Oct 3Oct 6Oct 10Oct 13Oct 16Oct 20Oct 25
24°FOct 6Oct 11Oct 16Oct 19Oct 23Oct 26Oct 29Nov 1Nov 5
20°FOct 16Oct 23Oct 27Oct 30Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 9Nov 14
16°FOct 28Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 9Nov 11Nov 14Nov 17Nov 21

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Wadena 3 S, 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 56477 →Compare Sebeka with another place →

Weather by month in Sebeka

July is the warmest month at Wadena 3 S, MN, averaging 78°F by day and 58°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 83% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,962 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 82% of the 142 Minnesota stations. 32% of them (623) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 552. Precipitation totals 29.4 inches a year, most in June (4.4") and least in February (0.8"); May to September bring 64% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Wadena 3 S, MN
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan18-10.9100%310
Feb2320.8100%280
Mar36151.4100%283
Apr52292.6100%1928
May65423.583%4178
Jun74544.42%0413
Jul78584.30%0552
Aug77553.60%0485
Sep69472.951%2251
Oct54342.8100%1550
Nov37201.3100%272
Dec2470.9100%310

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Wadena 3 S, MN (1,372 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, Park Rapids Municipal Airport, MN, 19 miles north of Sebeka, has a last frost 4 days later (May 14), a first frost 5 days earlier (September 25), a season 8 days shorter.

Frost dates for 56470 (Park Rapids) →

When it snows in Sebeka, Minnesota

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Sebeka usually arrives around November 10, and the last of the season around April 12. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Wadena 3 S, MN, 17.6 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 28 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 56477

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Sebeka, Minnesota
WhenWhat to do
March 1 – March 15Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 15 – March 29Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 12 – April 26Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
May 10 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 8Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 16Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
September 30 onwardPlant 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 56477 is 18 miles from Wadena 3 S, MN, which stands at 1,372 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 56482 (Wadena). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 56477 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.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 4a places in Minnesota