Checking current alerts… View NWS forecast and alerts.
Will it freeze in Muscatine 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 39°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.
- Tonight 39°F Above 36°F · Mostly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 29°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 34°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 36°F Frost possible · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 41°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 40°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 41°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 Muscatine
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 23, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Muscatine. 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 4 · May 18 | Sep 22 · Oct 4 · Oct 16 | 154 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 9 · Apr 24 · May 9 | Oct 1 · Oct 14 · Oct 25 | 172 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 30 · Apr 13 · Apr 29 | Oct 8 · Oct 23 · Nov 4 | 192 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Muscatine
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 Muscatine, IA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Muscatine (station USC00135837, elevation 549 ft), 0.8 mi from Muscatine. 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 Muscatine
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Island, IL | 25 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 18 |
| Davenport, IA | 26 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 22 |
| Milan, IL | 26 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 18 |
| Iowa City, IA | 29 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 18 |
| Eldridge, IA | 29 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 17 |
| Moline, IL | 30 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 18 |
| Bettendorf, IA | 32 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 25 |
| Coralville, IA | 34 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 18 |
| Washington, IA | 34 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 11 |
| Silvis, IL | 35 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 25 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Muscatine?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Muscatine is around April 24. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 9, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 9.
When is the first frost in Muscatine?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 14. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 1 and a 90% chance by October 25.
Can it frost in Muscatine 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 4.
What growing zone is Muscatine?
Muscatine 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 52761. See growing zones in Iowa.
More: all Iowa frost dates · Iowa growing zones · frost vs. freeze