Frost Dates for 68730 — Crofton, Nebraska

Half of springs at Crofton, 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 13. Planting tender crops after May 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 9 20%, and after May 13 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 8 in half of years, as early as September 26 one year in ten, and holds off past October 21 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 18; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 5, 8 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 160 days in a typical year, shorter than at 66% of the 68 Nebraska stations; it reaches 178 days one year in ten and falls short of 143 one year in ten. On average 154 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 30. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 12 and March 25.

July is the warmest month at Crofton, NE, averaging 85°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 30°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 50% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,031 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 74% of the 68 Nebraska stations. 33% of them (1,012) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 756. Precipitation totals 29.4 inches a year, most in June (4.3") and least in January (0.6"); May to September bring 61% of it.

The nearest other station, Yankton 2 E, SD, 11 miles northeast of Crofton and 220 feet lower, has a last frost 3 days earlier (April 27), a first frost 3 days later (October 11), a season 4 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Crofton 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 Crofton, NE, 2.8 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 16 days after the last snow.

ZIP 68730 is 3 miles from Crofton, NE, which stands at 1,400 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 68730 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.