Frost dates for Ainsworth, NE
At Ainsworth, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 2 and the median first fall frost is Oct 8, 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 zone 5b.
- May 2Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 14Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 8First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 158 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
USDA hardiness zone 5b (-15 to -10°F) · see all zone 5b frost dates
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 30 | May 12 | May 25 |
| 32°F | Apr 19 | May 2 | May 14 |
| 28°F | Apr 8 | Apr 22 | May 5 |
| 24°F | Mar 25 | Apr 11 | 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 18 | Sep 30 | Oct 12 |
| 32°F | Sep 25 | Oct 8 | Oct 21 |
| 28°F | Oct 3 | Oct 18 | Oct 30 |
| 24°F | Oct 14 | Oct 27 | 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 | 121 days | 139 days | 157 days |
| 32°F | 139 days | 158 days | 177 days |
| 28°F | 158 days | 178 days | 197 days |
| 24°F | 177 days | 197 days | 218 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 69210 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 18 km |
| 69214 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 23 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 USC00250050, at 42.5522, -99.8556, elevation 765 m (2,510 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 144.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Springview 2NW (33 km)
- Newport (43 km)
- Elsmere 9 ENE (44 km)
- Purdum (63 km)
- Valentine #1 (67 km)
- Valentine Miller Field (67 km)
- Atkinson 3SW (68 km)
- Valentine Nwr (69 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.