Frost dates for Norton Dam, KS
At Norton Dam, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 1 and the median first fall frost is Oct 12, for a typical growing season of 162 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 15. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6a.
- May 1Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 15Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 12First 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 28 | May 10 | May 26 |
| 32°F | Apr 17 | May 1 | May 15 |
| 28°F | Apr 6 | Apr 21 | May 3 |
| 24°F | Mar 24 | Apr 9 | Apr 25 |
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 15 |
| 32°F | Sep 29 | Oct 12 | Oct 22 |
| 28°F | Oct 6 | Oct 21 | Nov 1 |
| 24°F | Oct 16 | Oct 29 | Nov 11 |
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 | 125 days | 144 days | 162 days |
| 32°F | 144 days | 162 days | 180 days |
| 28°F | 161 days | 181 days | 201 days |
| 24°F | 182 days | 202 days | 223 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 67654 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 3 km |
| 67653 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 25 km |
| 67629 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 26 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 USC00145852, at 39.8114, -99.9386, elevation 715 m (2,346 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 28 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 155.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Norton 9sse (12 km)
- Hill City Muni Airport (49 km)
- Oberlin (49 km)
- Hill City 1e (51 km)
- Phillipsburg #2 (54 km)
- Webster Dam (64 km)
- Hoxie (66 km)
- Kirwin Dam (72 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.