Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Carroll, Iowa

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Carroll, 0.8 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 27
First fall frostOct 10
166 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 271 year in 10 after May 8
First fall frostOct 101 year in 10 by Sep 25
Growing season166 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 5a−20 to −15°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Carroll in the next 7 nights?

The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Fri, Nov 6: 29°F (Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 PM CST to Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 AM CST).

Tonight: forecast low 34°F. Frost possible.

NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.

3 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.

Overnight lows from the National Weather Service forecast for this location. This covers the available forecast window, not the first freeze of the whole season. Frost can form above 32°F on clear, calm nights.

Frost and freeze probabilities

Freeze dates shift from year to year. Spring percentages describe the chance of a freeze after the stated date; fall percentages describe the chance of a freeze by that date. The 10% spring date is the cautious one: a later freeze happens about 1 year in 10.

These dates describe historical probabilities, not this year’s forecast or the earliest and latest possible freezes. Different weather stations or probability thresholds can produce different published dates for the same city.

Average first hard freeze in Carroll

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 21, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Carroll. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.

TemperatureLast spring date
90% · 50% · 10% chance of a later freeze
First fall date
10% · 50% · 90% chance of an earlier freeze
Season
36°F frost possible Apr 23 · May 6 · May 17 Sep 17 · Sep 30 · Oct 14 147 days
32°F freeze Apr 14 · Apr 27 · May 8 Sep 25 · Oct 10 · Oct 24 166 days
28°F hard freeze Apr 3 · Apr 16 · Apr 29 Oct 5 · Oct 21 · Nov 3 187 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00131233. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Carroll

Average low temperature by month

Months with lows near or below freezing carry frost risk

Where these frost dates come from

The frost dates for Carroll, IA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Carroll (station USC00131233, elevation 1,240 ft), 0.8 mi from Carroll. Local conditions (valleys, hilltops, distance to water, city heat) can shift frost dates by days or weeks. The hardiness zone is from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA ARS and Oregon State University PRISM). See our methodology.

Frost dates near Carroll

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Denison, IA 25 mi Apr 27 Oct 11
Perry, IA 43 mi Apr 25 Oct 10
Storm Lake, IA 43 mi Apr 25 Oct 13
Fort Dodge, IA 47 mi Apr 28 Oct 8
Atlantic, IA 47 mi Apr 30 Oct 2
Boone, IA 51 mi Apr 28 Oct 12
Adel, IA 54 mi Apr 25 Oct 10
Cherokee, IA 58 mi May 4 Oct 4
Webster City, IA 60 mi May 3 Oct 2
Waukee, IA 60 mi Apr 18 Oct 20

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Carroll?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Carroll is around April 27. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 8, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 14.

When is the first frost in Carroll?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 10. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 25 and a 90% chance by October 24.

Can it frost in Carroll after the last frost date?

Yes. Frost can form on clear, calm nights even when the air stays above 32°F. Temperatures of 36°F or lower, cold enough for frost on exposed plants, have a 50% chance of occurring after May 6.

What growing zone is Carroll?

Carroll is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5a (average annual extreme minimum temperature −20 to −15°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 51401. See growing zones in Iowa.

More: all Iowa frost dates · Iowa growing zones · frost vs. freeze