Checking current alerts… View NWS forecast and alerts.
Will it freeze in Orange City in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Fri, Nov 6: 31°F (Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 PM CST to Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 AM CST).
Tonight: forecast low 33°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 33°F Frost possible · Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 31°F Freeze · Mostly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 34°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 39°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 37°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 Orange City
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 14, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Sioux Center 2 SE. 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 28 · May 9 · May 21 | Sep 11 · Sep 24 · Oct 7 | 138 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 17 · Apr 30 · May 12 | Sep 19 · Oct 3 · Oct 18 | 154 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 7 · Apr 21 · May 4 | Sep 29 · Oct 14 · Oct 27 | 175 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Sioux Center 2 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 Orange City, IA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Sioux Center 2 SE (station USC00137700, elevation 1,360 ft), 6.2 mi from Orange City. 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 Orange City
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Center, IA | 8.1 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 3 |
| Sheldon, IA | 16 mi | May 5 | Sep 28 |
| Le Mars, IA | 16 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 4 |
| Cherokee, IA | 31 mi | May 4 | Oct 4 |
| Sioux City, IA | 39 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 7 |
| South Sioux City, NE | 42 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 7 |
| Sergeant Bluff, IA | 44 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 7 |
| Harrisburg, SD | 45 mi | May 2 | Oct 2 |
| Vermillion, SD | 47 mi | May 3 | Oct 3 |
| Spencer, IA | 47 mi | May 1 | Oct 3 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Orange City?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Orange City is around April 30. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 12, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 17.
When is the first frost in Orange City?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 3. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 19 and a 90% chance by October 18.
Can it frost in Orange City 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 9.
What growing zone is Orange City?
Orange City 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 51041. See growing zones in Iowa.
More: all Iowa frost dates · Iowa growing zones · frost vs. freeze