Frost Dates for 68372 — Hickman, Nebraska

Half of springs at Crete 4ESE, NE see their last 32°F night by April 23; only one in ten is past it by April 9, and one in ten still has one after May 6. Planting tender crops after April 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 3 20%, and after May 6 10%. The 13 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 29% of the 68 Nebraska stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 12 in half of years, as early as September 28 one year in ten, and holds off past October 25 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 22; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 29, 7 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 170 days in a typical year, longer than at 66% of the 68 Nebraska stations; it reaches 189 days one year in ten and falls short of 152 one year in ten. On average 133 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 3, and return around October 5. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 16 and March 16.

July is the warmest month at Crete 4ESE, NE, averaging 87°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 34°F and 14°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 27% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,441 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 74% of the 68 Nebraska stations. 35% of them (1,197) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 797. Precipitation totals 31.1 inches a year, most in May (5.7") and least in January (0.7"); May to September bring 67% of it.

The nearest other station, Lincoln 8 ENE, NE, 17 miles north of Hickman and 271 feet lower, has a last frost 4 days later (April 27), a first frost 2 days earlier (October 10), a season 6 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Hickman usually arrives around November 19, and the last of the season around March 19. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Hickman, NE, 0.7 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 68372 is 13 miles from Crete 4ESE, NE, which stands at 1,460 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 68333 (Crete). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 68372 in zone 6a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.