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Will it freeze in Cherokee 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.
- Tonight 34°F Frost possible · Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 29°F Freeze · Mostly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 34°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 37°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 38°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 39°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
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 Cherokee
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 15, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Cherokee. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.
| Temperature | Last 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 30 · May 13 · May 25 | Sep 12 · Sep 25 · Oct 7 | 135 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 20 · May 4 · May 17 | Sep 20 · Oct 4 · Oct 18 | 152 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 9 · Apr 24 · May 7 | Sep 30 · Oct 15 · Oct 28 | 172 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Cherokee
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 Cherokee, IA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Cherokee (station USC00131442, elevation 1,210 ft), 0.9 mi from Cherokee. 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 Cherokee
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storm Lake, IA | 19 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 13 |
| Orange City, IA | 31 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 3 |
| Le Mars, IA | 32 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 4 |
| Sheldon, IA | 33 mi | May 5 | Sep 28 |
| Spencer, IA | 34 mi | May 1 | Oct 3 |
| Sioux Center, IA | 39 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 3 |
| Sioux City, IA | 46 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 7 |
| Sergeant Bluff, IA | 47 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 7 |
| South Sioux City, NE | 48 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 7 |
| Spirit Lake, IA | 51 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 11 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Cherokee?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Cherokee is around May 4. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 17, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 20.
When is the first frost in Cherokee?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 4. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 20 and a 90% chance by October 18.
Can it frost in Cherokee 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 13.
What growing zone is Cherokee?
Cherokee 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 51012. See growing zones in Iowa.
More: all Iowa frost dates · Iowa growing zones · frost vs. freeze