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Will it freeze in Maquoketa 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 36°F. Frost possible.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.
4 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 27°F Hard freeze · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 33°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 34°F Frost possible · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 39°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 Maquoketa
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 24, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Maquoketa. 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 20 · May 5 · May 18 | Sep 20 · Oct 3 · Oct 16 | 151 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 11 · Apr 25 · May 9 | Sep 30 · Oct 14 · Oct 26 | 171 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 2 · Apr 14 · May 1 | Oct 10 · Oct 24 · Nov 4 | 191 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Maquoketa
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 Maquoketa, IA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Maquoketa (station USC00135131, elevation 668 ft), 1.2 mi from Maquoketa. 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 Maquoketa
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeWitt, IA | 17 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 16 |
| Clinton, IA | 26 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 16 |
| Eldridge, IA | 29 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 17 |
| Dubuque, IA | 30 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 21 |
| Anamosa, IA | 32 mi | May 1 | Oct 4 |
| Asbury, IA | 32 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 21 |
| Davenport, IA | 35 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 22 |
| Bettendorf, IA | 35 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 25 |
| East Moline, IL | 40 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 25 |
| Moline, IL | 41 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 18 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Maquoketa?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Maquoketa is around April 25. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 9, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 11.
When is the first frost in Maquoketa?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 14. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 30 and a 90% chance by October 26.
Can it frost in Maquoketa 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 5.
What growing zone is Maquoketa?
Maquoketa 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 52060. See growing zones in Iowa.
More: all Iowa frost dates · Iowa growing zones · frost vs. freeze