Frost dates for St. Cloud Regional Airport, MN
At St. Cloud Regional Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 7 and the median first fall frost is Sep 30, for a typical growing season of 144 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 23. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 4b.
- May 7Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 23Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Sep 30First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 144 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 4 | May 18 | Jun 1 |
| 32°F | Apr 24 | May 7 | May 23 |
| 28°F | Apr 12 | Apr 27 | May 11 |
| 24°F | Apr 3 | Apr 15 | 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 8 | Sep 22 | Oct 3 |
| 32°F | Sep 16 | Sep 30 | Oct 12 |
| 28°F | Sep 25 | Oct 8 | Oct 23 |
| 24°F | Oct 4 | Oct 21 | Nov 2 |
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 | 104 days | 123 days | 143 days |
| 32°F | 122 days | 144 days | 163 days |
| 28°F | 142 days | 164 days | 183 days |
| 24°F | 166 days | 185 days | 206 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56304 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 2 km |
| 56379 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 11 km |
| 55319 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 11 km |
| 56303 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 13 km |
| 55320 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 17 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 USW00014926, at 45.5433, -94.0514, elevation 310 m (1,018 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 172.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Santiago 3 E (23 km)
- Rice (27 km)
- Collegeville St. John's (27 km)
- Kimball 3n (29 km)
- Milaca (38 km)
- Buffalo 2ne (42 km)
- Elk River (45 km)
- Little Falls 2nne (56 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.