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Will it freeze in Dickinson in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Tonight: 28°F (Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM MST).
Tonight: forecast low 28°F. Hard freeze.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM MST.
5 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 28°F Hard freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 33°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 33°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 39°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Mon, Nov 9 32°F Freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Tue, Nov 10 36°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 37°F Above 36°F · 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 Dickinson
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is September 29, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Dickinson. 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 19 · May 31 · Jun 17 | Aug 27 · Sep 12 · Sep 24 | 102 days |
| 32°F freeze | May 8 · May 20 · Jun 1 | Sep 8 · Sep 22 · Oct 3 | 123 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 27 · May 10 · May 24 | Sep 16 · Sep 29 · Oct 13 | 141 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Dickinson
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 Dickinson, ND come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Dickinson (station USC00322188, elevation 2,460 ft), 0.8 mi from Dickinson. 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 Dickinson
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watford City, ND | 66 mi | May 9 | Sep 27 |
| Sidney, MT | 86 mi | May 11 | Sep 27 |
| Mandan, ND | 90 mi | May 13 | Sep 27 |
| Bismarck, ND | 96 mi | May 10 | Sep 30 |
| Williston, ND | 98 mi | May 21 | Sep 21 |
| Minot, ND | 117 mi | May 10 | Oct 1 |
| Miles City, MT | 148 mi | May 8 | Sep 30 |
| Belle Fourche, SD | 162 mi | May 10 | Sep 30 |
| Spearfish, SD | 173 mi | May 12 | Oct 2 |
| Sturgis, SD | 175 mi | May 8 | Oct 3 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Dickinson?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Dickinson is around May 20. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after June 1, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after May 8.
When is the first frost in Dickinson?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around September 22. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 8 and a 90% chance by October 3.
Can it frost in Dickinson 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 31.
What growing zone is Dickinson?
Dickinson 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 58601. See growing zones in North Dakota.
More: all North Dakota frost dates · North Dakota growing zones · UV index today in Dickinson · frost vs. freeze