Frost dates for Hay Springs, NE
At Hay Springs, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 14 and the median first fall frost is Sep 30, for a typical growing season of 138 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 27. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5a.
- May 14Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 27Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Sep 30First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 138 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 12 | May 24 | Jun 6 |
| 32°F | May 2 | May 14 | May 27 |
| 28°F | Apr 20 | May 3 | May 15 |
| 24°F | Apr 8 | Apr 23 | May 6 |
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 5 | Sep 21 | Oct 2 |
| 32°F | Sep 15 | Sep 30 | Oct 11 |
| 28°F | Sep 25 | Oct 8 | Oct 20 |
| 24°F | Oct 3 | Oct 17 | Oct 28 |
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 | 97 days | 118 days | 137 days |
| 32°F | 118 days | 138 days | 154 days |
| 28°F | 139 days | 156 days | 174 days |
| 24°F | 156 days | 176 days | 196 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
Closest ZIP codes (each is closer to another station)
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 69347 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 10 km |
| 69360 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 18 km |
| 69337 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 32 km |
| 69365 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 35 km |
| 57770 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 45 km |
| 69367 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 53 km |
| 57794 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 54 km |
| 69348 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 58 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 USC00253710, at 42.6828, -102.6928, elevation 1175 m (3,855 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 14 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 183.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Hay Springs 12 S (19 km)
- Rushville (19 km)
- Chadron 3sw (33 km)
- Chadron Muni Airport (37 km)
- Gordon 6n (47 km)
- Hemingford (51 km)
- Ellsworth 15 NNE (61 km)
- Fort Robinson (63 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.