U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00252205 · Nebraska

Frost Dates for David City, NE

NOAA weather station David City (USC00252205), Nebraska · elevation 1610 ft (491 m) · hardiness zone 5b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 8only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 2650% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 1150% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season168 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone5bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at David City, NESpring: a frost after April 12 in 9 years out of 10, after April 26 in half of the years, after May 8 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before September 28 in 1 year out of 10, before October 11 in half of the years, before October 23 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 168 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 26First frost ~Oct 11Frost season at David City, NESpring: a frost after April 12 in 9 years out of 10, after April 26 in half of the years, after May 8 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before September 28 in 1 year out of 10, before October 11 in half of the years, before October 23 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 168 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 26First frost ~Oct 11
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 26 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)May 8September 28
50% (typical)April 26October 11
90% (likely)April 12October 23
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
168 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 17
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
October 20

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 26 (same as the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 17 (6 days later). Frost-free season 173 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at David City: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 8, 20% May 4, 30% May 2, 40% April 30, 50% April 26, 60% April 23, 70% April 21, 80% April 17, 90% April 12. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2022 April 27.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1May 8Apr 26Apr 122022: April 27Fall at David City: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% September 28, 20% October 1, 30% October 5, 40% October 8, 50% October 11, 60% October 14, 70% October 17, 80% October 19, 90% October 23. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2022 October 8.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Sep 28Oct 11Oct 232022: October 8
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there. ◆ marks the actual date in each recent year.

What actually happened in recent years

Observed dates of the last spring and first fall frost (32°F) at this station; ◆ marks them on the charts above
YearLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2021no dataincomplete record
2022April 27October 8
2023incomplete recordno data
2024no datano data
2025no datano data
2026no dataseason not over yet

What these dates mean

May 8, a 10% chance, is the cautious date for setting out tender crops in David City. By waiting until that date a gardener can plan planting with a low probability of a light frost later in the season. The 50% date is April 26, showing even odds of a light frost, while the median hard-frost date is April 17, when 28°F conditions become as likely as not.

In the autumn the cautious date is September 28, a 10% chance, and marks the point at which a gardener can aim to finish harvesting tender crops with little risk of an early light frost. The 50% date is October 11, indicating even odds of a light frost, and the median hard-frost date is October 20. A hard frost at 28°F can damage plants that would survive a 32°F light frost, so it represents a greater threat.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after May 8" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before September 28" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near David City, NENumbered nearest stations: 1 — Columbus, NE — 18 mi; 2 — Osceola, NE — 22 mi; 3 — Seward, NE — 24 mi; 4 — Lincoln, NE — 34 mi; 5 — Mead, NE — 35 mi.NEIA25 mi · 40 km1. Columbus, NE — 18 mi12. Osceola, NE — 22 mi23. Seward, NE — 24 mi34. Lincoln, NE — 34 mi45. Mead, NE — 35 mi5
  1. Columbus, NE 18 mi (29 km)
  2. Osceola, NE 22 mi (36 km)
  3. Seward, NE 24 mi (39 km)
  4. Lincoln, NE 34 mi (55 km)
  5. Mead, NE 35 mi (56 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 5b: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 41.2492, -97.1328.