Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Sauk Rapids, Minnesota

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at St Cloud Regional Airport, 6.0 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostMay 7
First fall frostSep 30
144 frost-free days
Last spring frostMay 71 year in 10 after May 23
First fall frostSep 301 year in 10 by Sep 16
Growing season144 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 4b−25 to −20°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Sauk Rapids in the next 7 nights?

The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Tonight: 29°F (Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST).

Tonight: forecast low 29°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.

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 Sauk Rapids

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 8, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at St Cloud Regional Airport. 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 May 4 · May 18 · Jun 1 Sep 8 · Sep 22 · Oct 3 123 days
32°F freeze Apr 24 · May 7 · May 23 Sep 16 · Sep 30 · Oct 12 144 days
28°F hard freeze Apr 12 · Apr 27 · May 11 Sep 25 · Oct 8 · Oct 23 164 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014926. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at St Cloud Regional Airport

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 Sauk Rapids, MN come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: St Cloud Regional Airport (station USW00014926, elevation 1,018 ft), 6.0 mi from Sauk Rapids. 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 Sauk Rapids

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Sartell, MN 3.1 mi May 3 Oct 7
St. Cloud, MN 5.0 mi May 7 Sep 30
Waite Park, MN 6.8 mi May 3 Oct 7
St. Joseph, MN 7.5 mi May 3 Oct 7
Becker, MN 19 mi May 7 Sep 28
Big Lake, MN 27 mi May 4 Oct 5
Princeton, MN 27 mi May 7 Sep 28
Monticello, MN 27 mi Apr 30 Oct 9
Little Falls, MN 29 mi May 4 Oct 5
Zimmerman, MN 29 mi May 4 Oct 5

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Sauk Rapids?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Sauk Rapids is around May 7. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 23, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 24.

When is the first frost in Sauk Rapids?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around September 30. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 16 and a 90% chance by October 12.

Can it frost in Sauk Rapids 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 18.

What growing zone is Sauk Rapids?

Sauk Rapids 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 56303. See growing zones in Minnesota.

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