Frost Dates for 68845 — Kearney, Nebraska

Half of springs at Kearney 4 NE, 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 12. Planting tender crops after May 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 7 20%, and after May 12 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 10 in half of years, as early as September 25 one year in ten, and holds off past October 22 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 19; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 3, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 162 days in a typical year, shorter than at 59% of the 68 Nebraska stations; it reaches 180 days one year in ten and falls short of 144 one year in ten. On average 157 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 8 days longer, to about May 8, and return around October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 14 and March 21.

July is the warmest month at Kearney 4 NE, NE, averaging 87°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 36°F and 14°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 3,132 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 65% of the 68 Nebraska stations. 34% of them (1,053) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 769. Precipitation totals 25.6 inches a year, most in May (4.4") and least in January (0.5"); May to September bring 64% of it.

The nearest other station, Minden, NE, 16 miles southeast of Kearney, has a last frost 4 days earlier (April 26), a first frost 2 days later (October 12), a season 6 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Kearney usually arrives around November 16, and the last of the season around March 30. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Kearney 4 NE, NE, 5.6 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 31 days after the last snow.

ZIP 68845 is 6 miles from Kearney 4 NE, NE, which stands at 2,130 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 68845 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.