Frost Dates for 68632 — David City, Nebraska

Half of springs at David City, NE see their last 32°F night by April 26; only one in ten is past it by April 12, and one in ten still has one after May 8. Planting tender crops after May 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 4 20%, and after May 8 10%. The 12 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 57% of the 68 Nebraska stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 11 in half of years, as early as September 28 one year in ten, and holds off past October 23 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 1, 7 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 168 days in a typical year, longer than at 57% of the 68 Nebraska stations; it reaches 187 days one year in ten and falls short of 148 one year in ten. On average 147 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 5, and return around October 3. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 15 and March 20.

July is the warmest month at David City, NE, averaging 86°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 31°F and 12°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 36% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,201 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 54% of the 68 Nebraska stations. 34% of them (1,097) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 773. Precipitation totals 30.5 inches a year, most in June (4.9") and least in January (0.8"); May to September bring 63% of it.

The nearest other station, Columbus 3 NE, NE, 18 miles northwest of David City and 160 feet lower, has a last frost 5 days earlier (April 21), a first frost 4 days later (October 15), a season 6 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in David City usually arrives around November 11, and the last of the season around March 28. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at David City, NE, 0.8 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 29 days after the last snow.

ZIP 68632 is under a mile from David City, NE, which stands at 1,610 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 68632 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.