U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USW00014922 · Minnesota

Frost Dates for Minneapolis (Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport), MN

NOAA weather station Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport (USW00014922), Minnesota · elevation 872 ft (266 m) · hardiness zone 5a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 7only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 2350% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 1850% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season176 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone5acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Minneapolis (Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport), MNSpring: a frost after April 8 in 9 years out of 10, after April 23 in half of the years, after May 7 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 1 in 1 year out of 10, before October 18 in half of the years, before October 31 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 176 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 23First frost ~Oct 18Frost season at Minneapolis (Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport), MNSpring: a frost after April 8 in 9 years out of 10, after April 23 in half of the years, after May 7 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 1 in 1 year out of 10, before October 18 in half of the years, before October 31 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 176 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 23First frost ~Oct 18
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 27 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)May 7October 1
50% (typical)April 23October 18
90% (likely)April 8October 31
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
176 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 13
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
October 29

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 21 (2 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 21 (3 days later). Frost-free season 182 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 Minneapolis (Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport): chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 7, 20% May 2, 30% April 30, 40% April 26, 50% April 23, 60% April 20, 70% April 17, 80% April 13, 90% April 8. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 21, 2022 April 27, 2023 April 25, 2024 April 20, 2025 April 8, 2026 May 6.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1May 7Apr 23Apr 82021: April 212022: April 272023: April 252024: April 202025: April 82026: May 6Fall at Minneapolis (Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport): chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 1, 20% October 7, 30% October 11, 40% October 15, 50% October 18, 60% October 21, 70% October 23, 80% October 27, 90% October 31. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 October 23, 2022 October 14, 2023 October 27, 2024 November 1, 2025 October 24.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 1Oct 18Oct 312021: October 232022: October 142023: October 272024: November 12025: October 24
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
2021April 21October 23
2022April 27October 14
2023April 25October 27
2024April 20November 1
2025April 8October 24
2026May 6season not over yet

What these dates mean

May 7, a 10 % chance of a light frost later than this date, is the cautious spring date for setting out tender crops in Minneapolis. It gives gardeners a low-risk point to begin planting those varieties that cannot survive a frost.

The 50% date is April 23; there is a 50 % chance of a light frost later than this date. In fall, October 1, a 10 % chance of a light frost earlier than this date, is the cautious date to finish harvesting tender crops. The 50% date is October 18; there is a 50 % chance of a light frost earlier than this date. The hard-frost median dates are April 13 and October 29, and a hard frost at 28 °F can damage plants that survive a 32 °F light frost.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after May 7" 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 October 1" 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 Minneapolis (Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport), MNNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Lower St. Anthony Falls, MN — 7 mi; 2 — near Roseville, MN — 8 mi; 3 — New Hope, MN — 11 mi; 4 — Rosemount, MN — 13 mi; 5 — Chanhassen, MN — 17 mi.WI25 mi · 40 km1. Lower St. Anthony Falls, MN — 7 mi12. near Roseville, MN — 8 mi23. New Hope, MN — 11 mi34. Rosemount, MN — 13 mi45. Chanhassen, MN — 17 mi5
  1. Lower St. Anthony Falls, MN 7 mi (11 km)
  2. near Roseville, MN 8 mi (13 km)
  3. New Hope, MN 11 mi (18 km)
  4. Rosemount, MN 13 mi (21 km)
  5. Chanhassen, MN 17 mi (27 km)

Sources

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

Station coordinates: 44.8831, -93.2289.