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Will it freeze in Detroit Lakes in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Tonight: 27°F (Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST).
Tonight: forecast low 27°F. Hard freeze.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.
6 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 27°F Hard freeze · Mostly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 28°F Hard freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 32°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 37°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Mon, Nov 9 33°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 33°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 33°F Frost possible · 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 Detroit Lakes
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 3, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Detroit Lakes 1 Nne. 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 12 · May 26 · Jun 7 | Aug 28 · Sep 13 · Sep 27 | 109 days |
| 32°F freeze | May 2 · May 15 · May 30 | Sep 9 · Sep 24 · Oct 6 | 130 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 24 · May 5 · May 19 | Sep 18 · Oct 3 · Oct 18 | 150 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Detroit Lakes 1 Nne
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 Detroit Lakes, MN come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Detroit Lakes 1 Nne (station USC00212142, elevation 1,355 ft), 2.1 mi from Detroit Lakes. 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 Detroit Lakes
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fergus Falls, MN | 38 mi | May 4 | Oct 5 |
| Moorhead, MN | 43 mi | May 5 | Oct 3 |
| Fargo, ND | 47 mi | May 4 | Oct 2 |
| West Fargo, ND | 50 mi | May 4 | Oct 2 |
| Horace, ND | 50 mi | May 4 | Oct 2 |
| Wahpeton, ND | 52 mi | May 4 | Oct 3 |
| Bemidji, MN | 65 mi | May 17 | Sep 26 |
| Alexandria, MN | 68 mi | May 2 | Oct 8 |
| Crookston, MN | 76 mi | May 11 | Sep 27 |
| Baxter, MN | 81 mi | May 8 | Sep 29 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Detroit Lakes?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Detroit Lakes is around May 15. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 30, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after May 2.
When is the first frost in Detroit Lakes?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around September 24. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 9 and a 90% chance by October 6.
Can it frost in Detroit Lakes 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 26.
What growing zone is Detroit Lakes?
Detroit Lakes is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 4a (average annual extreme minimum temperature −30 to −25°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 56501. See growing zones in Minnesota.
More: all Minnesota frost dates · Minnesota growing zones · frost vs. freeze