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Will it freeze in Red Oak 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 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.
- Tonight 37°F Above 36°F · Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 29°F Freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 35°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 39°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 41°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 42°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 42°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 Red Oak
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 23, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Red Oak. 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 21 · May 4 · May 18 | Sep 19 · Oct 3 · Oct 16 | 151 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 10 · Apr 24 · May 8 | Sep 26 · Oct 13 · Oct 25 | 169 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 1 · Apr 15 · Apr 29 | Oct 7 · Oct 23 · Nov 3 | 190 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Red Oak
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 Red Oak, IA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Red Oak (station USC00136940, elevation 1,040 ft), 1.2 mi from Red Oak. 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 Red Oak
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarinda, IA | 22 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 11 |
| Glenwood, IA | 27 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 11 |
| Atlantic, IA | 28 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 2 |
| Plattsmouth, NE | 35 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 11 |
| Council Bluffs, IA | 36 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 21 |
| Bellevue, NE | 39 mi | Apr 17 | Oct 19 |
| Nebraska City, NE | 40 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 19 |
| Ralston, NE | 44 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 18 |
| Creston, IA | 45 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 11 |
| Papillion, NE | 45 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 18 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Red Oak?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Red Oak is around April 24. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 8, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 10.
When is the first frost in Red Oak?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 13. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 26 and a 90% chance by October 25.
Can it frost in Red Oak 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 Red Oak?
Red Oak 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 51566. See growing zones in Iowa.
More: all Iowa frost dates · Iowa growing zones · frost vs. freeze