Frost dates for Wind Cave, SD
At Wind Cave, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 15 and the median first fall frost is Sep 29, for a typical growing season of 133 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 30. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 5a to 5b.
- May 15Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 30Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Sep 29First 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 15 | May 28 | Jun 12 |
| 32°F | May 4 | May 15 | May 30 |
| 28°F | Apr 22 | May 5 | May 18 |
| 24°F | Apr 9 | Apr 25 | May 7 |
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 3 | Sep 21 | Oct 2 |
| 32°F | Sep 13 | Sep 29 | Oct 11 |
| 28°F | Sep 24 | Oct 6 | Oct 20 |
| 24°F | Oct 2 | 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 | 90 days | 112 days | 131 days |
| 32°F | 113 days | 133 days | 152 days |
| 28°F | 133 days | 153 days | 171 days |
| 24°F | 154 days | 173 days | 194 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 57773 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 10 km |
| 57738 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 30 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 USC00399347, at 43.5561, -103.4794, elevation 1266 m (4,155 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 28 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 172.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Hot Springs (13 km)
- Custer Co Airport (22 km)
- Oral (24 km)
- Custer (27 km)
- Mount Rushmore Nmem (36 km)
- Edgemont 23 NNW (36 km)
- Edgemont (39 km)
- Hill City (43 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.