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Will it freeze in Kearney 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.
3 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 30°F Freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 31°F Freeze · Mostly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 40°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 38°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 41°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 Kearney
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 19, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Kearney 4 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 27 · May 8 · May 20 | Sep 19 · Oct 1 · Oct 13 | 146 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 16 · Apr 30 · May 12 | Sep 25 · Oct 10 · Oct 22 | 162 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 4 · Apr 19 · May 3 | Oct 3 · Oct 19 · Oct 30 | 181 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Kearney 4 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 Kearney, NE come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Kearney 4 NE (station USC00254335, elevation 2,130 ft), 4.0 mi from Kearney. 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 Kearney
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holdrege, NE | 24 mi | May 2 | Oct 11 |
| Lexington, NE | 35 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 13 |
| Hastings, NE | 37 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 16 |
| Grand Island, NE | 41 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 15 |
| York, NE | 79 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 18 |
| McCook, NE | 88 mi | May 1 | Oct 9 |
| North Platte, NE | 92 mi | May 11 | Oct 1 |
| Columbus, NE | 103 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 15 |
| Seward, NE | 105 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 12 |
| Crete, NE | 112 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 12 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Kearney?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Kearney is around April 30. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 12, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 16.
When is the first frost in Kearney?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 10. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 25 and a 90% chance by October 22.
Can it frost in Kearney 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 8.
What growing zone is Kearney?
Kearney 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 68849. See growing zones in Nebraska.
More: all Nebraska frost dates · Nebraska growing zones · UV index today in Kearney · frost vs. freeze