Frost Dates for 68620 — Albion, Nebraska

Half of springs at Albion, NE see their last 32°F night by May 1; only one in ten is past it by April 17, and one in ten still has one after May 12. Planting tender crops after May 5 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 8 20%, and after May 12 10%. The 11 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 84% of the 68 Nebraska stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 5 in half of years, as early as September 22 one year in ten, and holds off past October 18 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 16; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 5, 7 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 157 days in a typical year, shorter than at 76% of the 68 Nebraska stations; it reaches 174 days one year in ten and falls short of 138 one year in ten. On average 161 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 10, and return around September 27. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 10 and March 25.

July is the warmest month at Albion, NE, averaging 85°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 33°F and 11°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 51% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,932 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 84% of the 68 Nebraska stations. 34% of them (999) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 736. Precipitation totals 27.3 inches a year, most in May (4.2") and least in January (0.6"); May to September bring 64% of it.

The nearest other station, Madison, NE, 31 miles east of Albion and 215 feet lower, has a last frost 1 day earlier (April 30), a first frost 1 day later (October 6), a season 3 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Albion usually arrives around November 15, and the last of the season around April 7. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Albion, NE, 1.8 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 24 days after the last snow.

ZIP 68620 is 2 miles from Albion, NE, which stands at 1,795 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 68620 in zone 5b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -15 to -10°F (-26.1 to -23.3°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.