Minnesota frost dates
The typical last spring frost ranges from Apr 23 in Minneapolis to May 6 in Duluth.
4 of the 4 Minnesota cities listed have typical frost dates. The longest frost-free season is 175 days in Minneapolis; the shortest is 154 days in Duluth. For a single address, look up your ZIP code: rural ZIPs use their nearest suitable station.
| City | Last spring frost | 1 in 10 after | First fall frost | 1 in 10 before | Hard freeze (28°F) | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | May 6 | May 25 | Oct 9 | Sep 24 | Apr 24 / Oct 24 | 154 days |
| Minneapolis | Apr 23 | May 7 | Oct 16 | Oct 2 | Apr 14 / Oct 27 | 175 days |
| Rochester | Apr 30 | May 13 | Oct 6 | Sep 22 | Apr 18 / Oct 17 | 159 days |
| St. Paul | Apr 24 | May 10 | Oct 16 | Oct 2 | Apr 13 / Oct 27 | 174 days |
Reading the table: Rochester
In Rochester, the last spring frost typically comes around Apr 30: in half of years it is earlier, in half later. In 1 year in 10 it comes after May 13, 13 days later, so tender plants set out after that date have a 90% chance of escaping frost. In fall, the first frost typically arrives around Oct 6, and in 1 year in 10 before Sep 22. Hard freezes (28°F) usually end earlier in spring and start later in fall: around Apr 18 and Oct 17 in Rochester.
Frost dates at more Minnesota weather stations
NOAA stations across Minnesota used by our ZIP code lookup, named for the town they are in.
| Station | Elevation | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ada | 907 ft | May 11 (1 in 10 after May 25) | Sep 27 (before Sep 14) |
| Albert Lea 3SE | 1,230 ft | Apr 27 (1 in 10 after May 10) | Oct 9 (before Sep 26) |
| Alexandria Muni Airport | 1,416 ft | May 2 (1 in 10 after May 15) | Oct 8 (before Sep 27) |
| Amboy | 1,030 ft | Apr 30 (1 in 10 after May 12) | Oct 7 (before Sep 23) |
| Argyle | 847 ft | May 15 (1 in 10 after May 28) | Sep 26 (before Sep 13) |
| Artichoke Lake 1 E | 1,098 ft | May 1 (1 in 10 after May 14) | Oct 8 (before Sep 26) |
| Austin Waste WTP Facility | 1,199 ft | Apr 30 (1 in 10 after May 11) | Oct 5 (before Sep 22) |
| Benson | 1,030 ft | May 4 (1 in 10 after May 17) | Oct 3 (before Sep 21) |
| Bruno 7ENE | 1,253 ft | May 18 (1 in 10 after Jun 1) | Sep 26 (before Sep 12) |
| Buffalo 2NE | 992 ft | Apr 30 (1 in 10 after May 13) | Oct 9 (before Sep 25) |
| Caledonia | 1,166 ft | Apr 29 (1 in 10 after May 11) | Oct 10 (before Sep 28) |
| Chanhassen WSFO | 946 ft | Apr 30 (1 in 10 after May 15) | Oct 9 (before Sep 25) |
| Cloquet | 1,265 ft | May 26 (1 in 10 after Jun 9) | Sep 23 (before Sep 9) |
| Collegeville St John's | 1,210 ft | May 3 (1 in 10 after May 17) | Oct 7 (before Sep 25) |
| Delano | 975 ft | Apr 30 (1 in 10 after May 14) | Oct 8 (before Sep 24) |
| Detroit Lakes 1 Nne | 1,355 ft | May 15 (1 in 10 after May 30) | Sep 24 (before Sep 9) |
| Eveleth Wwtp | 1,445 ft | May 12 (1 in 10 after May 28) | Oct 1 (before Sep 18) |
| Forest Lake 5NE | 905 ft | May 3 (1 in 10 after May 19) | Oct 5 (before Sep 22) |
| Fosston 1 E | 1,300 ft | May 15 (1 in 10 after May 30) | Sep 26 (before Sep 10) |
| Gaylord | 1,020 ft | Apr 24 (1 in 10 after May 8) | Oct 15 (before Sep 30) |
| Grand Meadow | 1,350 ft | May 6 (1 in 10 after May 18) | Oct 1 (before Sep 17) |
| Grand Rpds Forest Lab | 1,310 ft | May 17 (1 in 10 after May 31) | Sep 24 (before Sep 10) |
| Hibbing Chisholm Hibbing Airport | 1,352 ft | Jun 5 (1 in 10 after Jun 25) | Sep 8 (before Aug 23) |
| Jordan 1SSW | 900 ft | May 2 (1 in 10 after May 18) | Oct 5 (before Sep 21) |
| Lake Wilson | 1,653 ft | May 7 (1 in 10 after May 19) | Sep 29 (before Sep 15) |
| Lamberton Sw Rsch & Outreach C | 1,140 ft | May 3 (1 in 10 after May 15) | Oct 2 (before Sep 18) |
| Litchfield | 1,120 ft | May 6 (1 in 10 after May 22) | Oct 2 (before Sep 20) |
| Long Prairie | 1,340 ft | May 13 (1 in 10 after May 28) | Sep 27 (before Sep 13) |
| Marcell 5NE | 1,387 ft | May 14 (1 in 10 after May 30) | Oct 2 (before Sep 20) |
| Marshall | 1,149 ft | May 5 (1 in 10 after May 18) | Oct 3 (before Sep 21) |
| Melrose | 1,195 ft | May 4 (1 in 10 after May 19) | Oct 1 (before Sep 17) |
| Milaca | 1,064 ft | May 8 (1 in 10 after May 26) | Oct 1 (before Sep 17) |
| Minneapolis/St Paul Airport | 872 ft | Apr 23 (1 in 10 after May 7) | Oct 18 (before Oct 1) |
| Morris W Cntrl Rsch & Outreach | 1,140 ft | May 4 (1 in 10 after May 17) | Oct 1 (before Sep 19) |
| Mpls Crystal Airport | 861 ft | Apr 30 (1 in 10 after May 17) | Oct 8 (before Sep 26) |
| Mpls Flying Cloud Airport | 907 ft | Apr 23 (1 in 10 after May 6) | Oct 14 (before Sep 28) |
| New Hope | 910 ft | Apr 29 (1 in 10 after May 12) | Oct 12 (before Sep 29) |
| Ottertail | 1,349 ft | May 5 (1 in 10 after May 18) | Oct 5 (before Sep 23) |
| Owatonna | 1,140 ft | May 5 (1 in 10 after May 20) | Oct 6 (before Sep 23) |
| Park Rapids Muni Airport | 1,434 ft | May 14 (1 in 10 after May 27) | Sep 25 (before Sep 12) |
| Pine Rvr Dam | 1,250 ft | May 6 (1 in 10 after May 19) | Oct 7 (before Sep 24) |
| Pipestone | 1,705 ft | May 4 (1 in 10 after May 19) | Oct 2 (before Sep 20) |
| Red Lake Falls | 1,038 ft | May 9 (1 in 10 after May 24) | Sep 30 (before Sep 16) |
| Redwood Falls Muni Airport | 1,021 ft | Apr 30 (1 in 10 after May 14) | Oct 4 (before Sep 21) |
| Rosemount Rsch & Outreach Ctr | 945 ft | May 2 (1 in 10 after May 16) | Oct 5 (before Sep 22) |
| Rothsay | 1,204 ft | May 5 (1 in 10 after May 20) | Oct 3 (before Sep 21) |
| St Cloud Rgnl Airport | 1,018 ft | May 7 (1 in 10 after May 23) | Sep 30 (before Sep 16) |
| St James Wwtp | 1,070 ft | Apr 30 (1 in 10 after May 13) | Oct 7 (before Sep 25) |
| St Peter | 795 ft | May 2 (1 in 10 after May 14) | Oct 4 (before Sep 21) |
| Theilman 1SSW | 753 ft | May 7 (1 in 10 after May 22) | Oct 2 (before Sep 20) |
| Tracy | 1,403 ft | May 2 (1 in 10 after May 15) | Oct 5 (before Sep 22) |
| Vadnais Lake | 890 ft | Apr 23 (1 in 10 after May 7) | Oct 20 (before Oct 3) |
| Wadena 3 S | 1,372 ft | May 10 (1 in 10 after May 25) | Sep 30 (before Sep 17) |
| Waseca S Rsch & Outreach Ctr | 1,153 ft | May 2 (1 in 10 after May 14) | Oct 4 (before Sep 20) |
| Wells | 1,135 ft | Apr 30 (1 in 10 after May 14) | Oct 6 (before Sep 24) |
| Wheaton | 1,018 ft | May 1 (1 in 10 after May 12) | Oct 9 (before Sep 26) |
| Wild Rvr Sp | 840 ft | May 19 (1 in 10 after Jun 3) | Sep 25 (before Sep 10) |
| Willmar Wwtp | 1,100 ft | Apr 30 (1 in 10 after May 13) | Oct 7 (before Sep 23) |
| Windom | 1,384 ft | Apr 30 (1 in 10 after May 13) | Oct 10 (before Sep 25) |
| Zumbrota | 970 ft | May 9 (1 in 10 after May 22) | Sep 30 (before Sep 17) |
32°F dates from NOAA 1991-2020 freeze probabilities for each city's station. "1 in 10 after": a 10% chance of a later spring frost (planting is 90% safe after it). How to read frost dates.