Plant By Frost

Iowa

Frost dates for Swea City 5N, IA

At this NOAA station the last spring frost (32°F) usually comes by May 4 and the first fall frost around October 1, giving a growing season of about 150 days.

May 4average last spring frost
October 1average first fall frost
JanAprJulOctDec

Frost odds

1 year in 10 the last spring frost is later thanMay 14
Half of years the last spring frost is later thanMay 4
9 years in 10 the last spring frost is later thanApril 21
1 year in 10 the first fall frost is earlier thanSeptember 18
Half of years the first fall frost is earlier thanOctober 1
9 years in 10 the first fall frost is earlier thanOctober 15

A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends by April 25 and returns around October 10.

A light frost (36°F, which can still nip tender plants) usually ends by May 11 and returns around September 23.

Station USC00138026, elevation 360 m. Based on 29 years of 1991 to 2020 records. A garden higher up, in a hollow or far from this station can freeze later in spring.

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Sources

  1. U.S. Annual/Seasonal Climate Normals, 1991 to 2020 (freeze probability dates by station), NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, checked 1 November 2026
  2. Annual/Seasonal Normals 1991 to 2020 documentation, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, checked 1 November 2026
  3. 2024 Gazetteer Files, ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, US Census Bureau, checked 1 November 2026