Iowa Frost Dates
Iowa has 150 NOAA weather stations with freeze records in the 1991–2020 climate normals. The typical last spring frost ranges from April 10 at Keokuk Lock Dam 19 to May 8 at Elkader 6 Ssw; at half the stations it has come by April 28. The first fall frost typically arrives between September 28 at Sheldon and October 27 at Keokuk Lock Dam 19, with a median of October 10.
The growing season between the typical frosts runs from 145 days at Sheldon to 198 days at Keokuk Lock Dam 19; 164 days at the median station.
Every station in Iowa
Typical dates have a 50% chance of a frost after them in spring, and before them in fall; safer dates, 10%. A garden can differ from its nearest station, especially in a valley or on a hillside: see why your garden may differ.
| Station | Elevation | Last frost | Safer | First frost | Safer | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albia 3 Nne | 880 ft | Apr 24 | May 9 | Oct 16 | Sep 29 | 173 |
| Algona | 1,214 ft | Apr 30 | May 11 | Oct 6 | Sep 23 | 160 |
| Allerton | 1,090 ft | Apr 21 | May 6 | Oct 19 | Oct 3 | 178 |
| Allison | 1,038 ft | Apr 27 | May 8 | Oct 8 | Sep 24 | 165 |
| Ames 5 Se | 870 ft | Apr 26 | May 8 | Oct 12 | Sep 26 | 168 |
| Ames 8 Wsw | 1,099 ft | Apr 23 | May 5 | Oct 14 | Sep 29 | 173 |
| Ames Muni Ap | 930 ft | Apr 26 | May 9 | Oct 8 | Sep 23 | 164 |
| Anamosa 1 Wnw | 805 ft | May 1 | May 18 | Oct 4 | Sep 21 | 154 |
| Anamosa 3 Ssw | 906 ft | Apr 27 | May 10 | Oct 13 | Sep 30 | 170 |
| Ankeny | 975 ft | Apr 23 | May 6 | Oct 15 | Sep 30 | 173 |
| Atlantic 1 Ne | 1,152 ft | Apr 30 | May 15 | Oct 2 | Sep 17 | 153 |
| Audubon | 1,280 ft | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 3 | Sep 19 | 154 |
| Battle Creek 3ne | 1,380 ft | May 1 | May 15 | Oct 1 | Sep 18 | 153 |
| Beaconsfield | 1,215 ft | Apr 23 | May 6 | Oct 17 | Oct 1 | 176 |
| Bedford | 1,190 ft | Apr 24 | May 6 | Oct 15 | Oct 1 | 173 |
| Belle Plaine | 810 ft | Apr 28 | May 11 | Oct 10 | Sep 26 | 165 |
| Bellevue L&D 12 | 603 ft | Apr 25 | May 11 | Oct 16 | Oct 1 | 172 |
| Bloomfield | 858 ft | Apr 16 | Apr 30 | Oct 22 | Oct 5 | 188 |
| Boone | 1,035 ft | Apr 28 | May 11 | Oct 12 | Sep 28 | 165 |
| Britt 3e | 1,220 ft | Apr 29 | May 10 | Oct 7 | Sep 24 | 161 |
| Burlington 2s | 690 ft | Apr 18 | May 3 | Oct 20 | Oct 6 | 185 |
| Burlington Muni Ap | 692 ft | Apr 15 | May 1 | Oct 20 | Oct 6 | 187 |
| Carroll | 1,240 ft | Apr 27 | May 8 | Oct 10 | Sep 25 | 166 |
| Cascade | 814 ft | Apr 28 | May 12 | Oct 10 | Sep 28 | 164 |
| Castana Exp Farm | 1,400 ft | Apr 25 | May 7 | Oct 12 | Sep 28 | 170 |
| Cedar Rapids #1 | 813 ft | Apr 28 | May 13 | Oct 12 | Sep 29 | 166 |
| Cedar Rapids Muni Ap | 868 ft | Apr 27 | May 11 | Oct 11 | Sep 25 | 165 |
| Centerville | 905 ft | Apr 28 | May 11 | Oct 14 | Sep 26 | 168 |
| Chariton 1 E | 965 ft | May 5 | May 19 | Oct 5 | Sep 20 | 151 |
| Charles City | 993 ft | Apr 30 | May 14 | Oct 6 | Sep 21 | 157 |
| Cherokee | 1,210 ft | May 4 | May 17 | Oct 4 | Sep 20 | 152 |
| Clarinda | 980 ft | Apr 25 | May 7 | Oct 11 | Sep 26 | 168 |
| Clarion | 1,156 ft | Apr 30 | May 12 | Oct 10 | Sep 27 | 162 |
| Clinton #1 | 585 ft | Apr 22 | May 8 | Oct 16 | Oct 2 | 175 |
| Coggon | 903 ft | May 3 | May 17 | Oct 7 | Sep 22 | 156 |
| Colo | 1,000 ft | Apr 24 | May 7 | Oct 12 | Sep 28 | 170 |
| Columbus Junction | 590 ft | Apr 26 | May 11 | Oct 10 | Sep 23 | 167 |
| Corning | 1,190 ft | Apr 27 | May 11 | Oct 12 | Sep 26 | 168 |
| Cresco 1 Ne | 1,255 ft | May 8 | May 21 | Oct 1 | Sep 19 | 147 |
| Creston 2 Sw | 1,296 ft | Apr 28 | May 9 | Oct 11 | Sep 24 | 164 |
| Dakota City | 1,110 ft | Apr 26 | May 7 | Oct 12 | Sep 29 | 169 |
| Davenport Wfo | 750 ft | Apr 21 | May 7 | Oct 17 | Oct 3 | 176 |
| Davenport | 754 ft | Apr 23 | May 8 | Oct 15 | Oct 1 | 174 |
| Decorah | 860 ft | May 3 | May 16 | Oct 7 | Sep 25 | 157 |
| Denison | 1,401 ft | Apr 27 | May 9 | Oct 11 | Sep 27 | 166 |
| Des Moines 17 E | 921 ft | Apr 21 | May 5 | Oct 15 | Sep 30 | 174 |
| Des Moines Intl Ap | 957 ft | Apr 18 | May 2 | Oct 20 | Oct 4 | 184 |
| Des Moines Wsfo-Johnston | 959 ft | Apr 19 | May 3 | Oct 18 | Oct 1 | 179 |
| Donnellson | 705 ft | Apr 17 | May 1 | Oct 22 | Oct 10 | 187 |
| Dubuque L&D 11 | 620 ft | Apr 19 | May 4 | Oct 21 | Oct 7 | 184 |
| Dubuque Rgnl Ap | 1,056 ft | Apr 28 | May 12 | Oct 11 | Sep 28 | 165 |
| Eldora | 1,073 ft | Apr 27 | May 8 | Oct 10 | Sep 27 | 165 |
| Elkader 6 Ssw | 788 ft | May 8 | May 22 | Oct 1 | Sep 18 | 146 |
| Emmetsburg | 1,225 ft | Apr 27 | May 9 | Oct 7 | Sep 23 | 164 |
| Estherville 4e | 1,320 ft | May 2 | May 14 | Oct 3 | Sep 20 | 153 |
| Estherville Muni Ap | 1,317 ft | May 2 | May 14 | Sep 30 | Sep 17 | 150 |
| Fairfield | 740 ft | Apr 27 | May 14 | Oct 12 | Sep 27 | 168 |
| Fayette | 1,145 ft | May 4 | May 17 | Oct 4 | Sep 20 | 151 |
| Forest City 2 Nne | 1,280 ft | Apr 30 | May 10 | Oct 7 | Sep 22 | 159 |
| Ft Dodge 5nnw | 1,115 ft | Apr 28 | May 9 | Oct 8 | Sep 24 | 162 |
| Ft Madison | 530 ft | Apr 12 | Apr 26 | Oct 25 | Oct 11 | 194 |
| Glenwood 3sw | 980 ft | Apr 23 | May 6 | Oct 11 | Sep 27 | 170 |
| Greenfield | 1,316 ft | Apr 25 | May 7 | Oct 12 | Sep 26 | 170 |
| Grinnell 3 Sw | 905 ft | May 3 | May 17 | Oct 6 | Sep 22 | 155 |
| Grundy Ctr | 985 ft | Apr 29 | May 12 | Oct 9 | Sep 25 | 160 |
| Guthrie Ctr | 1,065 ft | May 2 | May 17 | Oct 3 | Sep 20 | 153 |
| Guttenberg L&D 10 | 618 ft | Apr 21 | May 6 | Oct 18 | Oct 4 | 178 |
| Hampton | 1,105 ft | Apr 29 | May 10 | Oct 9 | Sep 26 | 162 |
| Harlan | 1,270 ft | Apr 27 | May 9 | Oct 9 | Sep 24 | 165 |
| Hawarden | 1,190 ft | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 4 | Sep 21 | 155 |
| Holstein | 1,370 ft | Apr 30 | May 11 | Oct 9 | Sep 27 | 162 |
| Humboldt Wtp | 1,100 ft | Apr 27 | May 7 | Oct 9 | Sep 24 | 166 |
| Ida Grove 5nw | 1,320 ft | Apr 27 | May 11 | Oct 12 | Sep 27 | 167 |
| Independence #1 | 1,010 ft | Apr 30 | May 12 | Oct 7 | Sep 23 | 159 |
| Indianola 2w | 924 ft | Apr 24 | May 8 | Oct 12 | Sep 27 | 168 |
| Iowa City Muni Ap | 650 ft | Apr 21 | May 6 | Oct 18 | Oct 4 | 180 |
| Iowa City | 640 ft | Apr 29 | May 14 | Oct 9 | Sep 25 | 162 |
| Iowa Falls | 1,055 ft | Apr 28 | May 11 | Oct 10 | Sep 26 | 164 |
| Jefferson | 1,055 ft | Apr 26 | May 8 | Oct 9 | Sep 23 | 164 |
| Keokuk Lock Dam 19 | 527 ft | Apr 10 | Apr 26 | Oct 27 | Oct 10 | 198 |
| Keosauqua | 629 ft | Apr 26 | May 11 | Oct 13 | Sep 28 | 169 |
| Knoxville | 895 ft | Apr 20 | May 4 | Oct 19 | Oct 1 | 180 |
| Lake Park | 1,465 ft | Apr 30 | May 11 | Oct 10 | Sep 26 | 164 |
| Lamoni Muni Ap | 1,131 ft | Apr 16 | May 2 | Oct 21 | Oct 6 | 186 |
| Lamoni | 1,128 ft | Apr 17 | May 1 | Oct 21 | Oct 6 | 184 |
| Lamoni | 1,168 ft | Apr 16 | May 2 | Oct 20 | Oct 6 | 187 |
| Le Claire L&D 14 | 577 ft | Apr 16 | Apr 30 | Oct 25 | Oct 11 | 190 |
| Le Mars | 1,195 ft | Apr 30 | May 12 | Oct 4 | Sep 21 | 157 |
| Leon 6 Ese | 1,000 ft | Apr 30 | May 15 | Oct 8 | Sep 26 | 161 |
| Little Sioux 2 Nw | 1,025 ft | May 1 | May 12 | Oct 3 | Sep 20 | 155 |
| Logan | 990 ft | Apr 29 | May 13 | Oct 8 | Sep 23 | 162 |
| Lowden | 738 ft | Apr 27 | May 13 | Oct 10 | Sep 25 | 165 |
| Manchester #2 | 990 ft | May 3 | May 16 | Oct 4 | Sep 22 | 154 |
| Mapleton No.2 | 1,200 ft | May 3 | May 16 | Oct 1 | Sep 19 | 151 |
| Maquoketa | 668 ft | Apr 25 | May 9 | Oct 14 | Sep 30 | 171 |
| Marshalltown Muni Ap | 974 ft | Apr 30 | May 12 | Oct 6 | Sep 22 | 159 |
| Marshalltown | 870 ft | Apr 28 | May 11 | Oct 7 | Sep 22 | 162 |
| Mason City Muni Ap | 1,225 ft | May 3 | May 15 | Oct 1 | Sep 18 | 150 |
| Mason City | 1,105 ft | Apr 29 | May 9 | Oct 7 | Sep 25 | 161 |
| Milford 4 Nw | 1,402 ft | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 6 | Sep 24 | 158 |
| Mt Ayr | 1,140 ft | Apr 25 | May 9 | Oct 12 | Sep 27 | 169 |
| Mt Pleasant 1 Ssw | 730 ft | Apr 30 | May 14 | Oct 10 | Sep 24 | 163 |
| Muscatine 2n | 680 ft | Apr 18 | May 2 | Oct 22 | Oct 8 | 184 |
| Muscatine | 549 ft | Apr 24 | May 9 | Oct 14 | Oct 1 | 172 |
| New Hampton | 1,148 ft | May 2 | May 14 | Oct 5 | Sep 23 | 155 |
| Newton | 960 ft | Apr 22 | May 4 | Oct 17 | Oct 1 | 174 |
| Northwood | 1,190 ft | May 4 | May 16 | Oct 4 | Sep 20 | 152 |
| Oakland | 1,260 ft | Apr 23 | May 5 | Oct 14 | Sep 30 | 174 |
| Oelwein 1e | 1,165 ft | Apr 27 | May 10 | Oct 13 | Sep 30 | 169 |
| Oelwein 2 S | 1,010 ft | Apr 30 | May 13 | Oct 9 | Sep 26 | 163 |
| Onawa 3nw | 1,060 ft | May 1 | May 13 | Oct 3 | Sep 21 | 154 |
| Osage | 1,170 ft | Apr 30 | May 12 | Oct 9 | Sep 25 | 163 |
| Osceola | 1,028 ft | Apr 29 | May 11 | Oct 9 | Sep 24 | 162 |
| Oskaloosa | 830 ft | Apr 21 | May 4 | Oct 16 | Sep 29 | 176 |
| Ottumwa Industrial Ap | 842 ft | Apr 23 | May 7 | Oct 14 | Sep 29 | 172 |
| Perry | 950 ft | Apr 25 | May 8 | Oct 10 | Sep 25 | 166 |
| Pocahontas | 1,212 ft | Apr 26 | May 8 | Oct 7 | Sep 25 | 164 |
| Postville | 1,165 ft | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 3 | Sep 20 | 153 |
| Primghar | 1,520 ft | Apr 29 | May 11 | Oct 10 | Sep 26 | 163 |
| Rathbun Dam | 965 ft | Apr 18 | May 2 | Oct 23 | Oct 10 | 187 |
| Red Oak | 1,040 ft | Apr 24 | May 8 | Oct 13 | Sep 26 | 169 |
| Rock Rapids | 1,350 ft | May 1 | May 13 | Oct 4 | Sep 21 | 156 |
| Rockwell City | 1,214 ft | Apr 26 | May 6 | Oct 10 | Sep 27 | 167 |
| Sac City | 1,210 ft | Apr 30 | May 11 | Oct 6 | Sep 23 | 158 |
| Sanborn | 1,551 ft | May 1 | May 13 | Oct 7 | Sep 23 | 160 |
| Sheldon | 1,420 ft | May 5 | May 18 | Sep 28 | Sep 14 | 145 |
| Shenandoah | 999 ft | Apr 20 | May 3 | Oct 17 | Oct 1 | 179 |
| Sibley | 1,529 ft | May 5 | May 17 | Oct 3 | Sep 21 | 152 |
| Sidney 1sse | 1,140 ft | Apr 19 | May 2 | Oct 19 | Oct 1 | 182 |
| Sigourney | 732 ft | Apr 24 | May 9 | Oct 15 | Sep 30 | 172 |
| Sioux City Ang | 1,100 ft | Apr 29 | May 11 | Oct 7 | Sep 24 | 161 |
| Sioux City Gateway Ap | 1,095 ft | Apr 29 | May 14 | Oct 5 | Sep 22 | 159 |
| Sioux Ctr 2 Se | 1,360 ft | Apr 30 | May 12 | Oct 3 | Sep 19 | 154 |
| Sioux Rapids 4 E | 1,420 ft | Apr 30 | May 11 | Oct 5 | Sep 22 | 159 |
| Spencer 1 N | 1,326 ft | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 3 | Sep 20 | 154 |
| Spencer Muni Ap | 1,338 ft | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 2 | Sep 18 | 154 |
| Spirit Lake | 1,420 ft | Apr 28 | May 9 | Oct 11 | Sep 27 | 164 |
| Stanley | 1,114 ft | May 4 | May 15 | Oct 1 | Sep 16 | 150 |
| Storm Lake | 1,442 ft | Apr 25 | May 7 | Oct 13 | Oct 1 | 170 |
| Swea City 5n | 1,180 ft | May 4 | May 14 | Oct 1 | Sep 18 | 150 |
| Tipton | 820 ft | Apr 21 | May 4 | Oct 15 | Oct 1 | 175 |
| Toledo 3n | 935 ft | Apr 30 | May 11 | Oct 9 | Sep 26 | 162 |
| Tripoli | 1,055 ft | Apr 29 | May 9 | Oct 9 | Sep 25 | 162 |
| Vinton | 850 ft | May 3 | May 17 | Oct 3 | Sep 20 | 151 |
| Washington | 687 ft | Apr 28 | May 11 | Oct 11 | Sep 25 | 165 |
| Waterloo Muni Ap | 868 ft | Apr 27 | May 10 | Oct 10 | Sep 26 | 165 |
| Waukon | 1,275 ft | May 2 | May 16 | Oct 11 | Sep 28 | 161 |
| Webster City | 1,072 ft | May 3 | May 16 | Oct 2 | Sep 18 | 150 |
| Williamsburg 1e | 780 ft | Apr 28 | May 12 | Oct 9 | Sep 24 | 164 |
| Winterset 1s | 1,100 ft | Apr 30 | May 11 | Oct 3 | Sep 20 | 157 |
Plan your garden with these dates
Enter your ZIP code in the planner: it picks the nearest of these stations and dates every crop in your beds from its frosts. Free, in your browser.
Questions
When is the last frost in Iowa?
It depends on where you are. The typical last spring frost at Iowa's NOAA stations ranges from April 10 to May 8, and half of them have had it by April 28. Enter your ZIP code above for the station nearest you.
When is the first frost in Iowa?
Typically between September 28 and October 27, depending on the station; the median is October 10. Plan fall crops back from your own station's date.
What do "typical" and "safer" mean?
With the typical (50%) last-frost date, half of years still have a frost after it. With the safer (10%) date, only one year in ten does. In fall it's the other way around: the safer date is the earlier one.
Other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming