Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Nevada, Iowa

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Ames 5 SE, 6.7 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 26
First fall frostOct 12
168 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 261 year in 10 after May 8
First fall frostOct 121 year in 10 by Sep 26
Growing season168 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 5b−15 to −10°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Nevada 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 36°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.

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 Nevada

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 22, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Ames 5 SE. 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 21 · May 5 · May 17 Sep 18 · Oct 1 · Oct 14 148 days
32°F freeze Apr 11 · Apr 26 · May 8 Sep 26 · Oct 12 · Oct 25 168 days
28°F hard freeze Apr 2 · Apr 15 · Apr 30 Oct 7 · Oct 22 · Nov 3 189 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00130203. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Ames 5 SE

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 Nevada, IA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Ames 5 SE (station USC00130203, elevation 870 ft), 6.7 mi from Nevada. 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 Nevada

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Ames, IA 8.1 mi Apr 26 Oct 8
Boone, IA 21 mi Apr 28 Oct 12
Polk City, IA 21 mi Apr 19 Oct 18
Ankeny, IA 21 mi Apr 23 Oct 15
Bondurant, IA 22 mi Apr 23 Oct 15
Altoona, IA 25 mi Apr 23 Oct 15
Johnston, IA 26 mi Apr 19 Oct 18
Marshalltown, IA 29 mi Apr 28 Oct 7
Pleasant Hill, IA 29 mi Apr 18 Oct 20
Grimes, IA 29 mi Apr 19 Oct 18

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Nevada?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Nevada is around April 26. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 8, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 11.

When is the first frost in Nevada?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 12. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 26 and a 90% chance by October 25.

Can it frost in Nevada 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 Nevada?

Nevada 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 50201. See growing zones in Iowa.

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