Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Brandon, South Dakota

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Sioux Falls, 7.3 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostMay 1
First fall frostOct 6
157 frost-free days
Last spring frostMay 11 year in 10 after May 14
First fall frostOct 61 year in 10 by Sep 23
Growing season157 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 5a−20 to −15°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Brandon 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.

4 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 Brandon

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 17, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Sioux Falls. 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 29 · May 10 · May 23 Sep 14 · Sep 27 · Oct 10 139 days
32°F freeze Apr 18 · May 1 · May 14 Sep 23 · Oct 6 · Oct 20 157 days
28°F hard freeze Apr 8 · Apr 22 · May 5 Oct 1 · Oct 17 · Oct 30 176 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014944. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Sioux Falls

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 Brandon, SD come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Sioux Falls (station USW00014944, elevation 1,430 ft), 7.3 mi from Brandon. 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 Brandon

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Sioux Falls, SD 8.1 mi Apr 26 Oct 13
Harrisburg, SD 12 mi May 2 Oct 2
Tea, SD 16 mi Apr 26 Oct 13
Madison, SD 39 mi May 5 Sep 30
Sioux Center, IA 41 mi Apr 30 Oct 3
Sheldon, IA 47 mi May 5 Sep 28
Orange City, IA 48 mi Apr 30 Oct 3
Worthington, MN 49 mi May 3 Oct 4
Brookings, SD 50 mi May 6 Oct 1
Vermillion, SD 58 mi May 3 Oct 3

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Brandon?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Brandon is around May 1. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 14, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 18.

When is the first frost in Brandon?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 6. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 23 and a 90% chance by October 20.

Can it frost in Brandon 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 Brandon?

Brandon is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5a (average annual extreme minimum temperature −20 to −15°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 57005. See growing zones in South Dakota.

More: all South Dakota frost dates · South Dakota growing zones · frost vs. freeze