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Will it freeze in Sheldon in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Tonight: 32°F (Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST).
Tonight: forecast low 32°F. Freeze.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.
4 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 32°F Freeze · Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 30°F Freeze · Mostly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 34°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 38°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 37°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 38°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
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 Sheldon
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 6, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Sheldon. 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 | May 1 · May 13 · May 25 | Sep 8 · Sep 20 · Oct 4 | 130 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 24 · May 5 · May 18 | Sep 14 · Sep 28 · Oct 12 | 145 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 15 · Apr 28 · May 9 | Sep 23 · Oct 6 · Oct 21 | 161 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Sheldon
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 Sheldon, IA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Sheldon (station USC00137594, elevation 1,420 ft), 0.5 mi from Sheldon. 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 Sheldon
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange City, IA | 16 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 3 |
| Sioux Center, IA | 18 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 3 |
| Le Mars, IA | 32 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 4 |
| Cherokee, IA | 33 mi | May 4 | Oct 4 |
| Worthington, MN | 34 mi | May 3 | Oct 4 |
| Spencer, IA | 35 mi | May 1 | Oct 3 |
| Spirit Lake, IA | 40 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 11 |
| Brandon, SD | 47 mi | May 1 | Oct 6 |
| Harrisburg, SD | 47 mi | May 2 | Oct 2 |
| Storm Lake, IA | 50 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 13 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Sheldon?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Sheldon is around May 5. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 18, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 24.
When is the first frost in Sheldon?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around September 28. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 14 and a 90% chance by October 12.
Can it frost in Sheldon 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 13.
What growing zone is Sheldon?
Sheldon 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 51201. See growing zones in Iowa.
More: all Iowa frost dates · Iowa growing zones · frost vs. freeze