Frost dates for Columbus 3 NE, NE
At Columbus 3 NE, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 21 and the median first fall frost is Oct 15, for a typical growing season of 174 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 5. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5b.
- Apr 21Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 5Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 15First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 174 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 17 | May 1 | May 14 |
| 32°F | Apr 7 | Apr 21 | May 5 |
| 28°F | Mar 30 | Apr 11 | Apr 26 |
| 24°F | Mar 18 | Apr 2 | Apr 18 |
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 23 | Oct 6 | Oct 18 |
| 32°F | Sep 30 | Oct 15 | Oct 27 |
| 28°F | Oct 9 | Oct 24 | Nov 5 |
| 24°F | Oct 19 | Nov 1 | Nov 15 |
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 | 139 days | 156 days | 174 days |
| 32°F | 155 days | 174 days | 193 days |
| 28°F | 173 days | 193 days | 213 days |
| 24°F | 192 days | 213 days | 234 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 68601 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 6 km |
| 68634 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 17 km |
| 68653 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 18 km |
| 68661 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 20 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 USC00251825, at 41.4639, -97.3278, elevation 442 m (1,450 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 141.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- David City (29 km)
- Clarkson (33 km)
- Osceola (36 km)
- Genoa 2 W (36 km)
- Howells (39 km)
- Surprise (40 km)
- Madison (42 km)
- Weston 3nw (53 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.