Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Gretna, Nebraska

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Gretna 4NE, 2.1 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 21
First fall frostOct 18
179 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 211 year in 10 after May 4
First fall frostOct 181 year in 10 by Oct 4
Growing season179 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6a−10 to −5°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Gretna in the next 7 nights?

The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Fri, Nov 6: 32°F (Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 PM CST to Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 AM CST).

Tonight: forecast low 37°F. Above 36°F.

NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.

1 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 Gretna

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 27, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Gretna 4NE. 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 16 · May 1 · May 14 Sep 26 · Oct 8 · Oct 21 160 days
32°F freeze Apr 5 · Apr 21 · May 4 Oct 4 · Oct 18 · Oct 31 179 days
28°F hard freeze Mar 27 · Apr 10 · Apr 25 Oct 14 · Oct 27 · Nov 10 199 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00253467. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Gretna 4NE

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 Gretna, NE come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Gretna 4NE (station USC00253467, elevation 1,240 ft), 2.1 mi from Gretna. 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 Gretna

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Papillion, NE 6.2 mi Apr 21 Oct 18
La Vista, NE 7.5 mi Apr 21 Oct 18
Ralston, NE 9.9 mi Apr 21 Oct 18
Omaha, NE 12 mi Apr 16 Oct 18
Bellevue, NE 14 mi Apr 17 Oct 19
Plattsmouth, NE 18 mi Apr 23 Oct 11
Council Bluffs, IA 19 mi Apr 18 Oct 21
Wahoo, NE 23 mi Apr 23 Oct 15
Glenwood, IA 24 mi Apr 23 Oct 11
Fremont, NE 26 mi Apr 23 Oct 15

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Gretna?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Gretna is around April 21. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 4, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 5.

When is the first frost in Gretna?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 18. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 4 and a 90% chance by October 31.

Can it frost in Gretna 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 Gretna?

Gretna is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a (average annual extreme minimum temperature −10 to −5°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 68136. See growing zones in Nebraska.

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