Frost Dates for 58072 — Valley City, North Dakota

Half of springs at Valley City 3 NNW, ND see their last 32°F night by May 13; only one in ten is past it by May 2, and one in ten still has one after May 25. Planting tender crops after May 18 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 22 20%, and after May 25 10%. The 12 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 79% of the 33 North Dakota stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by September 26 in half of years, as early as September 14 one year in ten, and holds off past October 8 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 17, 8 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 136 days in a typical year, shorter than at 52% of the 33 North Dakota stations; it reaches 153 days one year in ten and falls short of 118 one year in ten. On average 192 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 22, and return around September 17. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 5 and April 7.

July is the warmest month at Valley City 3 NNW, ND, averaging 81°F by day and 57°F at night; January is the coldest at 18°F and -2°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to May (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,097 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 61% of the 33 North Dakota stations. 31% of them (661) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 592. Precipitation totals 21.4 inches a year, most in June (3.6") and least in January (0.5"); May to September bring 71% of it.

The nearest other station, Jamestown State Hosp, ND, 31 miles west of Valley City and 257 feet higher, has a last frost 5 days earlier (May 8), a first frost 3 days later (September 29), a season 7 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Valley City usually arrives around November 7, and the last of the season around April 9. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Valley City 3 NNW, ND, 1.5 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 34 days after the last snow.

ZIP 58072 is 2 miles from Valley City 3 NNW, ND, which stands at 1,210 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 58072 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.