Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Newton, Iowa

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Newton, 1.2 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 22
First fall frostOct 17
174 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 221 year in 10 after May 4
First fall frostOct 171 year in 10 by Oct 1
Growing season174 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 5b−15 to −10°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Newton 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 37°F. Above 36°F.

NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.

2 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 Newton

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 26, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Newton. 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 19 · May 2 · May 13 Sep 21 · Oct 4 · Oct 18 156 days
32°F freeze Apr 8 · Apr 22 · May 4 Oct 1 · Oct 17 · Oct 28 174 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 30 · Apr 12 · Apr 25 Oct 14 · Oct 26 · Nov 6 194 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00135992. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Newton

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 Newton, IA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Newton (station USC00135992, elevation 960 ft), 1.2 mi from Newton. 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 Newton

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Grinnell, IA 17 mi May 3 Oct 6
Pella, IA 21 mi Apr 20 Oct 19
Bondurant, IA 21 mi Apr 23 Oct 15
Altoona, IA 23 mi Apr 23 Oct 15
Marshalltown, IA 24 mi Apr 28 Oct 7
Pleasant Hill, IA 25 mi Apr 18 Oct 20
Knoxville, IA 26 mi Apr 20 Oct 19
Ankeny, IA 29 mi Apr 23 Oct 15
Des Moines, IA 30 mi Apr 18 Oct 20
Nevada, IA 31 mi Apr 26 Oct 12

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Newton?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Newton is around April 22. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 4, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 8.

When is the first frost in Newton?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 17. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 1 and a 90% chance by October 28.

Can it frost in Newton 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 2.

What growing zone is Newton?

Newton 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 50208. See growing zones in Iowa.

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