Frost dates for Detroit Lakes 12e, MN
At Detroit Lakes 12e, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 4 and the median first fall frost is Oct 3, for a typical growing season of 150 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 16. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 3b to 4a.
- May 4Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 16Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 3First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 150 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 | May 2 | May 15 | May 29 |
| 32°F | Apr 24 | May 4 | May 16 |
| 28°F | Apr 14 | Apr 27 | May 8 |
| 24°F | Apr 5 | Apr 17 | 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 22 | Oct 3 | Oct 17 |
| 28°F | Sep 30 | Oct 15 | Oct 28 |
| 24°F | Oct 11 | Oct 26 | Nov 8 |
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 | 112 days | 132 days | 149 days |
| 32°F | 134 days | 150 days | 168 days |
| 28°F | 152 days | 170 days | 187 days |
| 24°F | 171 days | 190 days | 208 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56544 | 4a | -30 to -25°F | 11 km |
| 56570 | 3b | -35 to -30°F | 19 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 USC00212146, at 46.8575, -95.6067, elevation 470 m (1,542 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 11 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 178.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Tamarac Wildlife Re (12 km)
- Detroit Lakes 1 NNE (18 km)
- New York Mills (41 km)
- Park Rapids Muni Airport (41 km)
- Ottertail (49 km)
- Itasca Univ Of Minn (52 km)
- Mahnomen (58 km)
- Wadena 3 S (62 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.