Frost dates for Osceola, IA
At Osceola, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 29 and the median first fall frost is Oct 9, for a typical growing season of 162 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 11. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5b.
- Apr 29Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 11Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 9First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 162 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 24 | May 7 | May 20 |
| 32°F | Apr 13 | Apr 29 | May 11 |
| 28°F | Apr 2 | Apr 18 | May 2 |
| 24°F | Mar 20 | Apr 7 | Apr 22 |
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 15 | Sep 29 | Oct 13 |
| 32°F | Sep 24 | Oct 9 | Oct 24 |
| 28°F | Oct 2 | Oct 20 | Nov 2 |
| 24°F | Oct 16 | Oct 30 | Nov 12 |
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 | 126 days | 144 days | 162 days |
| 32°F | 142 days | 162 days | 183 days |
| 28°F | 162 days | 182 days | 203 days |
| 24°F | 183 days | 204 days | 226 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50213 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 2 km |
| 50275 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 14 km |
| 50264 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 15 km |
| 50262 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 18 km |
| 50174 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 20 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 USC00136316, at 41.0194, -93.7503, elevation 313 m (1,028 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 26 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 149.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Leon 6 ESE (34 km)
- Beaconsfield (34 km)
- Indianola 2w (40 km)
- Chariton 1 E (40 km)
- Winterset 1s (40 km)
- Lamoni Muni Airport (45 km)
- Lamoni (46 km)
- Lamoni (47 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.