Frost dates for Red Willow Dam, NE
At Red Willow Dam, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 4 and the median first fall frost is Oct 2, for a typical growing season of 149 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 18. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 5b to 6a.
- May 4Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 18Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 2First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 149 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 3 | May 14 | May 28 |
| 32°F | Apr 24 | May 4 | May 18 |
| 28°F | Apr 13 | Apr 27 | May 9 |
| 24°F | Apr 3 | Apr 17 | Apr 30 |
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 12 | Sep 24 | Oct 5 |
| 32°F | Sep 19 | Oct 2 | Oct 15 |
| 28°F | Sep 28 | Oct 12 | Oct 25 |
| 24°F | Oct 9 | Oct 23 | Nov 3 |
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 | 114 days | 131 days | 148 days |
| 32°F | 131 days | 149 days | 166 days |
| 28°F | 149 days | 168 days | 185 days |
| 24°F | 169 days | 188 days | 207 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 69001 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 12 km |
| 69024 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 22 km |
| 69034 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 23 km |
| 69042 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 27 km |
| 69038 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 29 km |
| 69025 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 32 km |
| 69040 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 39 km |
| 69044 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 39 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 USC00257110, at 40.3575, -100.6608, elevation 781 m (2,561 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 18 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 170.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Mc Cook (15 km)
- McCook Muni Airport (18 km)
- Culbertson (20 km)
- Curtis (33 km)
- Medicine Creek Dam (36 km)
- Hayes Center 1nw (37 km)
- Trenton Dam 1n (39 km)
- Cambridge (45 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.