Frost dates for Des Moines 17 E, IA
At Des Moines 17 E, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 21 and the median first fall frost is Oct 15, for a typical growing season of 174 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 5. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5b.
- Apr 21Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 5Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 15First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 174 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 18 | May 2 | May 15 |
| 32°F | Apr 7 | Apr 21 | May 5 |
| 28°F | Mar 29 | Apr 10 | Apr 26 |
| 24°F | Mar 16 | Apr 2 | Apr 17 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Sep 19 | Oct 3 | Oct 17 |
| 32°F | Sep 30 | Oct 15 | Oct 27 |
| 28°F | Oct 13 | Oct 25 | Nov 6 |
| 24°F | Oct 23 | Nov 3 | Nov 16 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 136 days | 154 days | 173 days |
| 32°F | 154 days | 174 days | 193 days |
| 28°F | 177 days | 196 days | 215 days |
| 24°F | 196 days | 215 days | 236 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50228 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 4 km |
| 50237 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 7 km |
| 50252 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 11 km |
| 50169 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 12 km |
| 50118 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 13 km |
| 50170 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 14 km |
| 50054 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 15 km |
| 50009 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 17 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USW00054902, at 41.5561, -93.2856, elevation 281 m (921 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 16 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 137.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Newton (27 km)
- Knoxville (30 km)
- Des Moines Intl Airport (31 km)
- Ankeny (36 km)
- Indianola 2w (37 km)
- Des Moines Wsfo-Johnston (42 km)
- Grinnell 3 SW (48 km)
- Ames 5 SE (50 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.