Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Vinton, Iowa

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Vinton, 1.1 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostMay 3
First fall frostOct 3
151 frost-free days
Last spring frostMay 31 year in 10 after May 17
First fall frostOct 31 year in 10 by Sep 20
Growing season151 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 5a−20 to −15°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Vinton in the next 7 nights?

The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Fri, Nov 6: 26°F (Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 PM CST to Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 AM CST).

Tonight: forecast low 35°F. Frost possible.

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.

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 Vinton

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 12, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Vinton. 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 30 · May 14 · May 28 Sep 13 · Sep 26 · Oct 6 134 days
32°F freeze Apr 21 · May 3 · May 17 Sep 20 · Oct 3 · Oct 15 151 days
28°F hard freeze Apr 10 · Apr 25 · May 8 Sep 29 · Oct 12 · Oct 24 169 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00138568. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Vinton

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 Vinton, IA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Vinton (station USC00138568, elevation 850 ft), 1.1 mi from Vinton. 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 Vinton

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Hiawatha, IA 19 mi Apr 28 Oct 12
Independence, IA 22 mi Apr 30 Oct 7
Cedar Rapids, IA 22 mi Apr 27 Oct 11
Marion, IA 24 mi Apr 28 Oct 12
Waterloo, IA 28 mi Apr 27 Oct 10
Cedar Falls, IA 33 mi Apr 27 Oct 10
Oelwein, IA 35 mi Apr 30 Oct 9
North Liberty, IA 36 mi Apr 21 Oct 18
Manchester, IA 37 mi May 3 Oct 4
Tiffin, IA 37 mi Apr 21 Oct 18

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Vinton?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Vinton is around May 3. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 17, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 21.

When is the first frost in Vinton?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 3. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 20 and a 90% chance by October 15.

Can it frost in Vinton 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 14.

What growing zone is Vinton?

Vinton 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 52349. See growing zones in Iowa.

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