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Will it freeze in Owatonna 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.
7 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 30°F Freeze · Mostly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 25°F Hard freeze · Areas Of Fog
- Sat, Nov 7 33°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 35°F Frost possible · Mostly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 36°F Frost possible · 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 Owatonna
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 18, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Owatonna. 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 30 · May 14 · May 28 | Sep 15 · Sep 29 · Oct 11 | 138 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 20 · May 5 · May 20 | Sep 23 · Oct 6 · Oct 21 | 154 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 10 · Apr 25 · May 12 | Oct 2 · Oct 18 · Nov 1 | 174 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Owatonna
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 Owatonna, MN come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Owatonna (station USC00216287, elevation 1,140 ft), 0.4 mi from Owatonna. 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 Owatonna
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waseca, MN | 14 mi | May 2 | Oct 4 |
| Faribault, MN | 14 mi | May 5 | Oct 5 |
| Kasson, MN | 24 mi | May 12 | Sep 28 |
| Northfield, MN | 25 mi | May 5 | Oct 5 |
| Lonsdale, MN | 29 mi | May 5 | Oct 5 |
| Byron, MN | 30 mi | May 12 | Sep 28 |
| Albert Lea, MN | 31 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 9 |
| Austin, MN | 32 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 5 |
| Elko New Market, MN | 33 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 10 |
| New Prague, MN | 35 mi | May 2 | Oct 5 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Owatonna?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Owatonna is around May 5. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 20, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 20.
When is the first frost in Owatonna?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 6. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 23 and a 90% chance by October 21.
Can it frost in Owatonna 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 14.
What growing zone is Owatonna?
Owatonna 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 55060. See growing zones in Minnesota.
More: all Minnesota frost dates · Minnesota growing zones · UV index today in Owatonna · frost vs. freeze