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Will it freeze in La Crescent in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Fri, Nov 6: 27°F (Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 PM CST to Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 AM CST).
Tonight: forecast low 33°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.
- Tonight 33°F Frost possible · Mostly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 27°F Hard freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 34°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 35°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 39°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 37°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 37°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 La Crescent
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 5, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at La Crescent Dam 7. 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 12 · Apr 26 · May 10 | Oct 2 · Oct 16 · Oct 30 | 173 days |
| 32°F freeze | Mar 31 · Apr 15 · May 1 | Oct 15 · Oct 28 · Nov 9 | 194 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 19 · Apr 3 · Apr 20 | Oct 25 · Nov 5 · Nov 20 | 215 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at La Crescent Dam 7
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 La Crescent, MN come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: La Crescent Dam 7 (station USC00214418, elevation 647 ft), 2.5 mi from La Crescent. 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 La Crescent
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse, WI | 3.7 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 13 |
| Onalaska, WI | 6.2 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 17 |
| Holmen, WI | 9.9 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 17 |
| West Salem, WI | 12 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 13 |
| Winona, MN | 24 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 19 |
| Sparta, WI | 25 mi | May 9 | Oct 1 |
| Tomah, WI | 42 mi | May 6 | Oct 3 |
| Decorah, IA | 43 mi | May 3 | Oct 7 |
| Prairie du Chien, WI | 55 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 12 |
| Richland Center, WI | 57 mi | May 5 | Oct 6 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in La Crescent?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in La Crescent is around April 15. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 1, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 31.
When is the first frost in La Crescent?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 28. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 15 and a 90% chance by November 9.
Can it frost in La Crescent 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 26.
What growing zone is La Crescent?
La Crescent 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 55947. See growing zones in Minnesota.
More: all Minnesota frost dates · Minnesota growing zones · frost vs. freeze