Frost dates for Pocahontas, IA
At Pocahontas, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 26 and the median first fall frost is Oct 7, for a typical growing season of 164 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 8. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5a.
- Apr 26Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 8Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 7First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 164 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 23 | May 5 | May 18 |
| 32°F | Apr 11 | Apr 26 | May 8 |
| 28°F | Apr 3 | Apr 16 | Apr 30 |
| 24°F | Mar 22 | Apr 7 | Apr 21 |
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 16 | Sep 28 | Oct 10 |
| 32°F | Sep 25 | Oct 7 | Oct 20 |
| 28°F | Oct 3 | Oct 17 | Oct 30 |
| 24°F | Oct 12 | Oct 26 | Nov 9 |
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 | 128 days | 145 days | 163 days |
| 32°F | 144 days | 164 days | 181 days |
| 28°F | 165 days | 182 days | 200 days |
| 24°F | 182 days | 201 days | 221 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50574 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 3 km |
| 50571 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 12 km |
| 50546 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 13 km |
| 50581 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 16 km |
| 50573 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 17 km |
| 50541 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 17 km |
| 50540 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 21 km |
| 50593 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 21 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 USC00136719, at 42.7292, -94.6614, elevation 369 m (1,212 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 29 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 157.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Humboldt Water Plant (36 km)
- Rockwell City (37 km)
- Sioux Rapids 4 E (38 km)
- Dakota City (38 km)
- Fort Dodge 5nnw (41 km)
- Emmetsburg (42 km)
- Sac City (43 km)
- Storm Lake (44 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.