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Will it freeze in Columbus in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Tonight: 32°F (Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST).
Tonight: forecast low 32°F. Freeze.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.
3 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 32°F Freeze · Mostly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 31°F Freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 35°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 39°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 38°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 40°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 41°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 Columbus
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 24, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Columbus 3 NE. 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 17 · May 1 · May 14 | Sep 23 · Oct 6 · Oct 18 | 156 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 7 · Apr 21 · May 5 | Sep 30 · Oct 15 · Oct 27 | 174 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 30 · Apr 11 · Apr 26 | Oct 9 · Oct 24 · Nov 5 | 193 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Columbus 3 NE
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 Columbus, NE come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Columbus 3 NE (station USC00251825, elevation 1,450 ft), 2.4 mi from Columbus. 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 Columbus
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schuyler, NE | 16 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 15 |
| Seward, NE | 39 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 12 |
| Norfolk, NE | 41 mi | May 1 | Oct 4 |
| York, NE | 41 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 18 |
| Wahoo, NE | 42 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 15 |
| Fremont, NE | 45 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 15 |
| Lincoln, NE | 56 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 13 |
| Wayne, NE | 58 mi | Apr 29 | Oct 11 |
| Crete, NE | 60 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 12 |
| Grand Island, NE | 63 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 15 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Columbus?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Columbus is around April 21. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 5, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 7.
When is the first frost in Columbus?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 15. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 30 and a 90% chance by October 27.
Can it frost in Columbus 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 1.
What growing zone is Columbus?
Columbus is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −15 to −10°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 68601. See growing zones in Nebraska.
More: all Nebraska frost dates · Nebraska growing zones · UV index today in Columbus · frost vs. freeze