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Will it freeze in McCook 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.
3 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 29°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Fri, Nov 6 34°F Frost possible · 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 · Mostly 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 McCook
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 19, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Mccook Municipal Airport. 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 28 · May 10 · May 25 | Sep 17 · Oct 1 · Oct 13 | 142 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 17 · May 1 · May 15 | Sep 26 · Oct 9 · Oct 22 | 160 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 5 · Apr 21 · May 5 | Oct 5 · Oct 19 · Oct 31 | 181 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Mccook Municipal 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 McCook, NE come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Mccook Municipal Airport (station USW00094040, elevation 2,530 ft), 1.6 mi from McCook. 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 McCook
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington, NE | 61 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 13 |
| Colby, KS | 61 mi | May 2 | Oct 9 |
| North Platte, NE | 64 mi | May 11 | Oct 1 |
| Holdrege, NE | 68 mi | May 2 | Oct 11 |
| Kearney, NE | 88 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 10 |
| Hays, KS | 115 mi | Apr 19 | Oct 22 |
| Hastings, NE | 121 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 16 |
| Grand Island, NE | 129 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 15 |
| Sterling, CO | 138 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 9 |
| Sidney, NE | 139 mi | May 15 | Sep 30 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in McCook?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in McCook is around May 1. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 15, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 17.
When is the first frost in McCook?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 9. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 26 and a 90% chance by October 22.
Can it frost in McCook 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 10.
What growing zone is McCook?
McCook 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 69001. See growing zones in Nebraska.
More: all Nebraska frost dates · Nebraska growing zones · frost vs. freeze