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Will it freeze in West Des Moines 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 38°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 38°F Above 36°F · Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 29°F Freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 38°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 42°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 40°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 West Des Moines
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 30, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Des Moines Intl Airport. 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 15 · Apr 29 · May 10 | Sep 25 · Oct 9 · Oct 22 | 163 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 4 · Apr 18 · May 2 | Oct 4 · Oct 20 · Nov 1 | 184 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 25 · Apr 8 · Apr 22 | Oct 16 · Oct 30 · Nov 11 | 203 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Des Moines Intl Airport
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 West Des Moines, IA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Des Moines Intl Airport (station USW00014933, elevation 957 ft), 6.7 mi from West Des Moines. 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 West Des Moines
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clive, IA | 4.3 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 20 |
| Windsor Heights, IA | 5.0 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 20 |
| Waukee, IA | 6.2 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 20 |
| Urbandale, IA | 6.2 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 18 |
| Norwalk, IA | 6.2 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 20 |
| Grimes, IA | 8.7 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 18 |
| Des Moines, IA | 8.7 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 20 |
| Johnston, IA | 9.9 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 18 |
| Adel, IA | 12 mi | Apr 25 | Oct 10 |
| Pleasant Hill, IA | 15 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 20 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in West Des Moines?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in West Des Moines is around April 18. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 2, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 4.
When is the first frost in West Des Moines?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 20. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 4 and a 90% chance by November 1.
Can it frost in West Des Moines 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 April 29.
What growing zone is West Des Moines?
West Des Moines 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 50265. See growing zones in Iowa.
More: all Iowa frost dates · Iowa growing zones · UV index today in West Des Moines · frost vs. freeze