Plant By Frost

South Dakota

Frost dates for Salem 5Ne, SD

At this NOAA station the last spring frost (32°F) usually comes by May 7 and the first fall frost around September 29, giving a growing season of about 144 days.

May 7average last spring frost
September 29average first fall frost
JanAprJulOctDec

Frost odds

1 year in 10 the last spring frost is later thanMay 19
Half of years the last spring frost is later thanMay 7
9 years in 10 the last spring frost is later thanApril 25
1 year in 10 the first fall frost is earlier thanSeptember 17
Half of years the first fall frost is earlier thanSeptember 29
9 years in 10 the first fall frost is earlier thanOctober 13

A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends by April 29 and returns around October 8.

A light frost (36°F, which can still nip tender plants) usually ends by May 16 and returns around September 21.

Station USC00395360, elevation 486 m. Based on 13 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