Frost dates for Merriman, NE
At Merriman, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 13 and the median first fall frost is Oct 1, 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 13Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 27Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 1First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 138 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
USDA hardiness zone 5a (-20 to -15°F) · see all zone 5a 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 | May 11 | May 23 | Jun 6 |
| 32°F | May 2 | May 13 | May 27 |
| 28°F | Apr 20 | May 3 | May 17 |
| 24°F | Apr 10 | Apr 24 | 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 7 | Sep 21 | Oct 4 |
| 32°F | Sep 17 | Oct 1 | Oct 14 |
| 28°F | Sep 26 | Oct 10 | Oct 25 |
| 24°F | Oct 4 | Oct 22 | Nov 4 |
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 | 100 days | 119 days | 137 days |
| 32°F | 119 days | 138 days | 156 days |
| 28°F | 137 days | 159 days | 177 days |
| 24°F | 157 days | 178 days | 199 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 69218 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 18 km |
| 69343 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 33 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 USC00255470, at 42.9194, -101.7089, elevation 986 m (3,235 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 16 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
- Gordon 6N (40 km)
- Kilgore 1NE (62 km)
- Rushville (65 km)
- Mullen 21 NW (80 km)
- Ellsworth 15 NNE (84 km)
- Hay Springs (84 km)
- Valentine Nwr (92 km)
- Hay Springs 12 S (92 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.