Frost Dates for 68701 — Norfolk, Nebraska

Half of springs at Norfolk Karl Stefan Airport, NE see their last 32°F night by April 30; only one in ten is past it by April 16, and one in ten still has one after May 14. Planting tender crops after May 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 9 20%, and after May 14 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 72% 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 21 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, 9 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 176 days one year in ten and falls short of 138 one year in ten. On average 150 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 9, and return around September 28. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 11 and March 22.

July is the warmest month at Norfolk Karl Stefan Airport, NE, averaging 86°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 33°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 48% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,133 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 63% of the 68 Nebraska stations. 34% of them (1,076) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 769. Precipitation totals 27.0 inches a year, most in June (4.4") and least in January (0.6"); May to September bring 64% of it.

The nearest other station, Stanton, NE, 11 miles southeast of Norfolk, has a last frost 2 days earlier (April 28), a first frost 4 days later (October 9), a season 7 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Norfolk usually arrives around November 11, and the last of the season around April 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Norfolk Karl Stefan Airport, NE, 3 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 68701 is 3 miles from Norfolk Karl Stefan Airport, NE, which stands at 1,551 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 68701 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.