U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00259200 · Nebraska

Frost Dates for West Point, NE

NOAA weather station West Point (USC00259200), Nebraska · elevation 1310 ft (399 m) · hardiness zone 5b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 11only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 2850% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 1250% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season165 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone5bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at West Point, NESpring: a frost after April 14 in 9 years out of 10, after April 28 in half of the years, after May 11 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before September 26 in 1 year out of 10, before October 12 in half of the years, before October 23 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 165 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 28First frost ~Oct 12Frost season at West Point, NESpring: a frost after April 14 in 9 years out of 10, after April 28 in half of the years, after May 11 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before September 26 in 1 year out of 10, before October 12 in half of the years, before October 23 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 165 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 28First frost ~Oct 12
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 29 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)May 11September 26
50% (typical)April 28October 12
90% (likely)April 14October 23
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
165 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 17
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
October 22

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 29 (1 day later than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 14 (2 days later). Frost-free season 168 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 West Point: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 11, 20% May 6, 30% May 2, 40% April 30, 50% April 28, 60% April 25, 70% April 22, 80% April 19, 90% April 14. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 May 5, 2022 April 27, 2023 May 3, 2024 April 24, 2025 April 20, 2026 May 6.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1May 11Apr 28Apr 142021: May 52022: April 272023: May 32024: April 242025: April 202026: May 6Fall at West Point: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% September 26, 20% October 2, 30% October 5, 40% October 9, 50% October 12, 60% October 14, 70% October 17, 80% October 20, 90% October 23. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 October 22, 2022 October 8, 2023 October 16, 2024 October 14, 2025 October 22.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Sep 26Oct 12Oct 232021: October 222022: October 82023: October 162024: October 142025: October 22
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
2021May 5October 22
2022April 27October 8
2023May 3October 16
2024April 24October 14
2025April 20October 22
2026May 6season not over yet

What these dates mean

Setting out tender crops on the early spring date of April 14 in West Point carries a 90 % chance of a light frost, so it is a gamble for gardeners.

April 28 is the 50% date for light frost in spring, indicating a 50 % chance of a frost later than this date, while October 12 is the 50% date for light frost in fall, indicating a 50 % chance of a frost earlier than this date. The cautious spring date is May 11, when only a 10 % chance of a later light frost remains, and the cautious fall date is September 26, with only a 10 % chance that a light frost has already arrived.

Hard frosts, defined by the 28 °F threshold, reach their 50 % point on April 17 in spring and October 22 in fall, and they matter more than light frosts because temperatures that low can injure plants that would survive the 32 °F light-frost level.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after May 11" 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 26" 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 West Point, NENumbered nearest stations: 1 — Wakefield, NE — 30 mi; 2 — Wayne, NE — 31 mi; 3 — Fremont, NE — 31 mi; 4 — near Norfolk, NE — 38 mi; 5 — Columbus, NE — 41 mi.NEIA25 mi · 40 km1. Wakefield, NE — 30 mi12. Wayne, NE — 31 mi23. Fremont, NE — 31 mi34. near Norfolk, NE — 38 mi45. Columbus, NE — 41 mi5
  1. Wakefield, NE 30 mi (48 km)
  2. Wayne, NE 31 mi (50 km)
  3. Fremont, NE 31 mi (51 km)
  4. near Norfolk, NE 38 mi (62 km)
  5. Columbus, NE 41 mi (66 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: 41.845, -96.7142.