Checking current alerts… View NWS forecast and alerts.
Will it freeze in Council Bluffs in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Fri, Nov 6: 32°F (Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 PM CST to Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 AM CST).
Tonight: forecast low 38°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.
1 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 38°F Above 36°F · Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 32°F Freeze · Mostly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 42°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 43°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 43°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 43°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 Council Bluffs
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 30, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Omaha Eppley Airfield. 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 14 · Apr 28 · May 11 | Sep 27 · Oct 10 · Oct 23 | 165 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 5 · Apr 18 · Apr 30 | Oct 6 · Oct 21 · Nov 1 | 185 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 24 · Apr 8 · Apr 21 | Oct 17 · Oct 30 · Nov 11 | 204 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Omaha Eppley Airfield
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 Council Bluffs, IA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Omaha Eppley Airfield (station USW00014942, elevation 982 ft), 5.7 mi from Council Bluffs. 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 Council Bluffs
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellevue, NE | 7.5 mi | Apr 17 | Oct 19 |
| Ralston, NE | 9.9 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 18 |
| Omaha, NE | 11 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 18 |
| La Vista, NE | 12 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 18 |
| Papillion, NE | 14 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 18 |
| Glenwood, IA | 14 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 11 |
| Plattsmouth, NE | 16 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 11 |
| Gretna, NE | 19 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 18 |
| Blair, NE | 25 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 17 |
| Fremont, NE | 36 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 15 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Council Bluffs?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Council Bluffs is around April 18. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 30, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 5.
When is the first frost in Council Bluffs?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 21. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 6 and a 90% chance by November 1.
Can it frost in Council Bluffs 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 April 28.
What growing zone is Council Bluffs?
Council Bluffs 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 51501. See growing zones in Iowa.
More: all Iowa frost dates · Iowa growing zones · UV index today in Council Bluffs · frost vs. freeze