Frost Dates for 68713 — Atkinson, Nebraska

Half of springs at Atkinson 3SW, NE see their last 32°F night by May 4; only one in ten is past it by April 20, and one in ten still has one after May 18. Planting tender crops after May 9 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 12 20%, and after May 18 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 4 in half of years, as early as September 22 one year in ten, and holds off past October 16 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 13; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 7, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 152 days in a typical year, shorter than at 85% of the 68 Nebraska stations; it reaches 171 days one year in ten and falls short of 134 one year in ten. On average 152 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 14, and return around September 27. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 8 and March 29.

July is the warmest month at Atkinson 3SW, NE, averaging 86°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 32°F and 10°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 65% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,827 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 88% of the 68 Nebraska stations. 32% of them (898) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 739. Precipitation totals 25.1 inches a year, most in May (4.3") and least in January (0.4"); May to September bring 65% of it.

The nearest other station, O'Neill, NE, 17 miles southeast of Atkinson, has a last frost 1 day earlier (May 3), a first frost 1 day later (October 5), a season 3 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Atkinson usually arrives around November 7, and the last of the season around April 14. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Atkinson 3SW, NE, 6.1 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 20 days after the last snow.

ZIP 68713 is 6 miles from Atkinson 3SW, NE, which stands at 2,128 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 68713 in zone 5a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -20 to -15°F (-28.9 to -26.1°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.