Frost dates for Chadron 3sw, NE
At Chadron 3sw, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 15 and the median first fall frost is Sep 28, for a typical growing season of 133 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 31. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5a.
- May 15Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 31Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Sep 28First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 133 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 14 | May 26 | Jun 12 |
| 32°F | May 2 | May 15 | May 31 |
| 28°F | Apr 22 | May 5 | May 19 |
| 24°F | Apr 9 | Apr 25 | May 9 |
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 1 | Sep 18 | Oct 1 |
| 32°F | Sep 13 | Sep 28 | Oct 11 |
| 28°F | Sep 23 | Oct 7 | Oct 20 |
| 24°F | Oct 1 | Oct 17 | Oct 29 |
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 | 91 days | 112 days | 132 days |
| 32°F | 113 days | 133 days | 151 days |
| 28°F | 134 days | 154 days | 173 days |
| 24°F | 151 days | 174 days | 195 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 69337 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 10 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 USC00251575, at 42.8083, -103.0533, elevation 1031 m (3,383 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 26 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 173.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Chadron Muni Airport (5 km)
- Hay Springs (33 km)
- Fort Robinson (37 km)
- Hay Springs 12 S (44 km)
- Rushville (47 km)
- Hemingford (54 km)
- Harrison 9ne (60 km)
- Harrison (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.