Frost dates for Wells, MN
At Wells, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 30 and the median first fall frost is Oct 6, for a typical growing season of 158 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 14. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 4b to 5a.
- Apr 30Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 14Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 6First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 158 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 24 |
| 32°F | Apr 16 | Apr 30 | May 14 |
| 28°F | Apr 5 | Apr 20 | May 6 |
| 24°F | Mar 26 | Apr 10 | Apr 26 |
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 29 | Oct 11 |
| 32°F | Sep 24 | Oct 6 | Oct 20 |
| 28°F | Oct 1 | Oct 17 | Oct 31 |
| 24°F | Oct 12 | Oct 27 | 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 | 120 days | 141 days | 158 days |
| 32°F | 139 days | 158 days | 178 days |
| 28°F | 158 days | 177 days | 197 days |
| 24°F | 175 days | 197 days | 219 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56097 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 3 km |
| 56032 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 14 km |
| 56068 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 14 km |
| 56025 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 15 km |
| 56009 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 18 km |
| 56091 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 19 km |
| 56014 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 19 km |
| 56042 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 21 km |
| 56051 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 23 km |
| 56033 | 5a | -20 to -15°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 USC00218808, at 43.7467, -93.7367, elevation 346 m (1,135 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 26 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 161.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Winnebago (35 km)
- Amboy (38 km)
- Albert Lea 3se (38 km)
- Waseca S Rsch & Outreach Center (40 km)
- Mankato (51 km)
- Owatonna (56 km)
- Fairmont (60 km)
- Austin Waste Water Plant Facility (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.