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Will it freeze in Colby in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Tonight: 30°F (Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST).
Tonight: forecast low 30°F. Freeze.
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 30°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Fri, Nov 6 35°F Frost possible · Mostly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 39°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 39°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 41°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 41°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 Colby
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 18, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Colby 1SW. 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 26 | Sep 17 · Sep 30 · Oct 12 | 139 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 20 · May 2 · May 15 | Sep 26 · Oct 9 · Oct 21 | 156 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 11 · Apr 23 · May 7 | Oct 4 · Oct 18 · Oct 29 | 176 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Colby 1SW
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 Colby, KS come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Colby 1SW (station USC00141699, elevation 3,170 ft), 1.4 mi from Colby. 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 Colby
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| McCook, NE | 61 mi | May 1 | Oct 9 |
| Garden City, KS | 98 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 17 |
| Hays, KS | 99 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 22 |
| Holdrege, NE | 114 mi | May 2 | Oct 11 |
| Lexington, NE | 118 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 13 |
| North Platte, NE | 121 mi | May 11 | Oct 1 |
| Lamar, CO | 124 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 10 |
| Dodge City, KS | 125 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 20 |
| Ulysses, KS | 126 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 16 |
| Kearney, NE | 138 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 10 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Colby?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Colby is around May 2. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 15, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 20.
When is the first frost in Colby?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 9. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 26 and a 90% chance by October 21.
Can it frost in Colby 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 Colby?
Colby is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a (average annual extreme minimum temperature −10 to −5°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 67701. See growing zones in Kansas.
More: all Kansas frost dates · Kansas growing zones · frost vs. freeze