Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Monticello, Minnesota

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Buffalo 2NE, 7.2 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 30
First fall frostOct 9
163 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 301 year in 10 after May 13
First fall frostOct 91 year in 10 by Sep 25
Growing season163 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 4b−25 to −20°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Monticello 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.

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 Monticello

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 21, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Buffalo 2NE. 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 28 · May 9 · May 26 Sep 18 · Oct 1 · Oct 14 143 days
32°F freeze Apr 15 · Apr 30 · May 13 Sep 25 · Oct 9 · Oct 23 163 days
28°F hard freeze Apr 5 · Apr 19 · May 2 Oct 5 · Oct 21 · Nov 3 184 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00211107. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Buffalo 2NE

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 Monticello, MN come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Buffalo 2NE (station USC00211107, elevation 992 ft), 7.2 mi from Monticello. 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 Monticello

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Big Lake, MN 3.7 mi May 4 Oct 5
Albertville, MN 7.5 mi May 4 Oct 5
Becker, MN 8.1 mi May 7 Sep 28
St. Michael, MN 8.1 mi Apr 30 Oct 9
Otsego, MN 8.1 mi May 4 Oct 5
Buffalo, MN 8.7 mi Apr 30 Oct 9
Elk River, MN 11 mi May 4 Oct 5
Rogers, MN 13 mi May 4 Oct 5
Zimmerman, MN 14 mi May 4 Oct 5
Ramsey, MN 16 mi May 4 Oct 5

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Monticello?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Monticello is around April 30. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 13, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 15.

When is the first frost in Monticello?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 9. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 25 and a 90% chance by October 23.

Can it frost in Monticello 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 9.

What growing zone is Monticello?

Monticello is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 4b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −25 to −20°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 55362. See growing zones in Minnesota.

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