Frost dates for Fayette, IA
At Fayette, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 4 and the median first fall frost is Oct 4, for a typical growing season of 151 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 17. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5a.
- May 4Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 17Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 4First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 151 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 30 | May 13 | May 28 |
| 32°F | Apr 20 | May 4 | May 17 |
| 28°F | Apr 10 | Apr 25 | May 8 |
| 24°F | Mar 30 | Apr 14 | Apr 30 |
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 13 | Sep 25 | Oct 6 |
| 32°F | Sep 20 | Oct 4 | Oct 18 |
| 28°F | Oct 1 | Oct 15 | Oct 27 |
| 24°F | Oct 12 | Oct 25 | Nov 7 |
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 | 116 days | 134 days | 151 days |
| 32°F | 133 days | 151 days | 170 days |
| 28°F | 151 days | 173 days | 192 days |
| 24°F | 174 days | 193 days | 214 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 52142 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 7 km |
| 52164 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 7 km |
| 52175 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 12 km |
| 52147 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 13 km |
| 52169 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 14 km |
| 52141 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 16 km |
| 52166 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 22 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 USC00132864, at 42.8825, -91.8303, elevation 349 m (1,145 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 29 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 164.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Oelwein 1e (23 km)
- Oelwein 2 S (27 km)
- Stanley (28 km)
- Postville (32 km)
- Elkader 6 SSW (33 km)
- Tripoli (36 km)
- Independence #1 (40 km)
- New Hampton (43 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.