Frost Dates for 68822 — Broken Bow, Nebraska

Half of springs at Broken Bow Municipal Airport, 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 15. Planting tender crops after May 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 9 20%, and after May 15 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 7 in half of years, as early as September 23 one year in ten, and holds off past October 18 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 17; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 4, 11 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 139 one year in ten. On average 164 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 29. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 9 and March 23.

July is the warmest month at Broken Bow Municipal Airport, NE, averaging 87°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 38°F and 15°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 3,111 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 68% of the 68 Nebraska stations. 33% of them (1,037) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 784. Precipitation totals 23.2 inches a year, most in May (4.0") and least in January (0.4"); May to September bring 67% of it.

The nearest other station, Burwell, NE, 36 miles northeast of Broken Bow and 354 feet lower, has a last frost 3 days later (May 4), a first frost 2 days earlier (October 5), a season 3 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Broken Bow usually arrives around November 7, and the last of the season around March 27. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Broken Bow 2 W, NE, 2.4 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 35 days after the last snow.

ZIP 68822 is 2 miles from Broken Bow Municipal Airport, NE, which stands at 2,530 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 68822 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.