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Will it freeze in Pierre in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Tonight: 28°F (Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST).
Tonight: forecast low 28°F. Hard 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.
- Tonight 28°F Hard freeze · Partly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
- Fri, Nov 6 30°F Freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 34°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 40°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 35°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Tue, Nov 10 37°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 38°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 Pierre
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 12, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Pierre Regional 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 | May 3 · May 16 · May 30 | Sep 13 · Sep 25 · Oct 8 | 131 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 24 · May 6 · May 21 | Sep 20 · Oct 3 · Oct 17 | 148 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 12 · Apr 26 · May 10 | Sep 27 · Oct 12 · Oct 27 | 167 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Pierre Regional 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 Pierre, SD come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Pierre Regional Airport (station USW00024025, elevation 1,742 ft), 1.7 mi from Pierre. 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 Pierre
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huron, SD | 104 mi | May 6 | Oct 2 |
| Aberdeen, SD | 118 mi | May 8 | Sep 29 |
| Mitchell, SD | 122 mi | May 2 | Oct 6 |
| Box Elder, SD | 138 mi | May 12 | Oct 1 |
| Rapid City, SD | 145 mi | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| Sturgis, SD | 157 mi | May 8 | Oct 3 |
| Watertown, SD | 160 mi | May 7 | Sep 30 |
| Madison, SD | 161 mi | May 5 | Sep 30 |
| Bismarck, ND | 170 mi | May 10 | Sep 30 |
| Mandan, ND | 171 mi | May 13 | Sep 27 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Pierre?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Pierre is around May 6. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 21, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 24.
When is the first frost in Pierre?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 3. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 20 and a 90% chance by October 17.
Can it frost in Pierre 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 16.
What growing zone is Pierre?
Pierre is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 4b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −25 to −20°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 57501. See growing zones in South Dakota.
More: all South Dakota frost dates · South Dakota growing zones · frost vs. freeze