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Will it freeze in Fort Dodge in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Fri, Nov 6: 27°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 27°F Hard freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 35°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 37°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 38°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 40°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
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 Fort Dodge
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 19, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Ft Dodge 5NNW. 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 24 · May 6 · May 17 | Sep 17 · Sep 30 · Oct 12 | 144 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 13 · Apr 28 · May 9 | Sep 24 · Oct 8 · Oct 22 | 162 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 4 · Apr 17 · May 1 | Oct 3 · Oct 19 · Nov 1 | 183 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Ft Dodge 5NNW
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 Fort Dodge, IA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Ft Dodge 5NNW (station USC00132999, elevation 1,115 ft), 5.2 mi from Fort Dodge. 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 Fort Dodge
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webster City, IA | 19 mi | May 3 | Oct 2 |
| Boone, IA | 35 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 12 |
| Algona, IA | 39 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 6 |
| Ames, IA | 44 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 8 |
| Iowa Falls, IA | 46 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 10 |
| Carroll, IA | 47 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 10 |
| Perry, IA | 47 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 10 |
| Nevada, IA | 50 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 12 |
| Storm Lake, IA | 53 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 13 |
| Polk City, IA | 55 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 18 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Fort Dodge?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Fort Dodge is around April 28. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 9, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 13.
When is the first frost in Fort Dodge?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 8. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 24 and a 90% chance by October 22.
Can it frost in Fort Dodge 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 Fort Dodge?
Fort Dodge 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 50501. See growing zones in Iowa.
More: all Iowa frost dates · Iowa growing zones · frost vs. freeze