Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Clinton, Iowa

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Clinton #1, 3.5 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 22
First fall frostOct 16
175 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 221 year in 10 after May 8
First fall frostOct 161 year in 10 by Oct 2
Growing season175 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 5b−15 to −10°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Clinton in the next 7 nights?

The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Fri, Nov 6: 28°F (Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 PM CST to Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 AM CST).

Tonight: forecast low 37°F. Above 36°F.

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 Clinton

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 25, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Clinton #1. 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 18 · May 2 · May 17 Sep 23 · Oct 6 · Oct 18 156 days
32°F freeze Apr 9 · Apr 22 · May 8 Oct 2 · Oct 16 · Oct 28 175 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 31 · Apr 13 · Apr 29 Oct 11 · Oct 25 · Nov 5 195 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00131635. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Clinton #1

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 Clinton, IA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Clinton #1 (station USC00131635, elevation 585 ft), 3.5 mi from Clinton. 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 Clinton

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
DeWitt, IA 16 mi Apr 22 Oct 16
Eldridge, IA 22 mi Apr 21 Oct 17
Bettendorf, IA 22 mi Apr 16 Oct 25
East Moline, IL 24 mi Apr 16 Oct 25
Silvis, IL 25 mi Apr 16 Oct 25
Maquoketa, IA 26 mi Apr 25 Oct 14
Davenport, IA 27 mi Apr 19 Oct 22
Geneseo, IL 27 mi Apr 20 Oct 20
Moline, IL 28 mi Apr 24 Oct 18
Sterling, IL 29 mi Apr 21 Oct 19

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Clinton?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Clinton is around April 22. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 8, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 9.

When is the first frost in Clinton?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 16. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 2 and a 90% chance by October 28.

Can it frost in Clinton 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 2.

What growing zone is Clinton?

Clinton is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −15 to −10°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 52732. See growing zones in Iowa.

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