Frost dates / By state
Frost dates in Nebraska
NOAA 1991–2020 normals for a 32 °F freeze. Your own yard can run a little either side.
Short answer
Across 23 NOAA weather stations in Nebraska, the average last spring frost runs from April 16 at Omaha #1 to May 27 at Harrison 20 SSE. The first fall frost comes as early as September 11 at Harrison 20 SSE and as late as October 21 at Omaha Eppley Airfield. Planting zones near these stations run from 5a to 6a.
Nebraska cities
- Frost dates in Omaha: last frost April 16, first frost October 18
- Frost dates in Lincoln: last frost April 24, first frost October 13
Find yours by ZIP code
The table below is by weather station. For the station nearest you, and your planting zone, type your ZIP code.
Nebraska frost dates by weather station
| Station | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Frost-free | Zone nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance Muni Airport 3,924 ft | May 22 1 in 10 after June 5 | September 22 1 in 10 by September 7 | 123 days | 5a |
| Broken Bow Muni Airport 2,530 ft | May 1 1 in 10 after May 15 | October 7 1 in 10 by September 23 | 159 days | 5b |
| Chadron Muni Airport 3,318 ft | May 14 1 in 10 after May 27 | September 30 1 in 10 by September 15 | 139 days | 5a |
| Falls City Brenner Fld 980 ft | April 18 1 in 10 after May 2 | October 17 1 in 10 by October 1 | 182 days | 6a |
| Grand Island Airport 1,840 ft | April 23 1 in 10 after May 6 | October 15 1 in 10 by September 29 | 175 days | 5b |
| Harrison 20 SSE 4,406 ft | May 27 1 in 10 after June 14 | September 11 1 in 10 by August 26 | 107 days | – |
| Hastings Muni Airport 1,940 ft | April 22 1 in 10 after May 5 | October 16 1 in 10 by October 2 | 177 days | 6a |
| Hayes Center 1NW 3,045 ft | May 3 1 in 10 after May 16 | October 10 1 in 10 by September 27 | 160 days | 5b |
| Imperial Muni Airport 3,268 ft | May 2 1 in 10 after May 13 | October 11 1 in 10 by September 27 | 162 days | 5b |
| Lincoln 11 SW 1,372 ft | April 22 1 in 10 after May 4 | October 14 1 in 10 by September 29 | 175 days | 6a |
| Lincoln 8 ENE 1,189 ft | April 27 1 in 10 after May 8 | October 10 1 in 10 by September 25 | 166 days | 6a |
| Lincoln Muni Airport 1,190 ft | April 24 1 in 10 after May 7 | October 13 1 in 10 by September 29 | 172 days | 6a |
| Mccook Muni Airport 2,530 ft | May 1 1 in 10 after May 15 | October 9 1 in 10 by September 26 | 161 days | 6a |
| Norfolk Karl Stefan Airport 1,551 ft | April 30 1 in 10 after May 14 | October 5 1 in 10 by September 21 | 158 days | 5b |
| North Platte Rgnl Airport 2,778 ft | May 11 1 in 10 after May 26 | October 1 1 in 10 by September 16 | 143 days | 5b |
| Omaha #1 1,280 ft | April 16 1 in 10 after May 6 | October 18 1 in 10 by October 2 | 185 days | 5b |
| Omaha Eppley Airfield 982 ft | April 18 1 in 10 after April 30 | October 21 1 in 10 by October 6 | 186 days | 6a |
| Ord Evelyn Sharp Fld 2,069 ft | May 5 1 in 10 after May 19 | October 3 1 in 10 by September 20 | 151 days | 5b |
| Scottsbluff Heilig Airport 3,945 ft | May 5 1 in 10 after May 18 | October 4 1 in 10 by September 21 | 152 days | 5a |
| Sidney Muni Airport 4,309 ft | May 15 1 in 10 after May 30 | September 30 1 in 10 by September 15 | 138 days | 5b |
| Tekamah Muni Airport 1,028 ft | April 23 1 in 10 after May 6 | October 8 1 in 10 by September 24 | 168 days | 5b |
| Valentine Miller Fld 2,590 ft | May 12 1 in 10 after May 25 | September 29 1 in 10 by September 16 | 140 days | – |
| Whitman 5 ENE 3,740 ft | May 4 1 in 10 after May 16 | October 8 1 in 10 by September 25 | 157 days | 5b |
The average date is NOAA's 50% date: half of years have a later last frost, or an earlier first one. Plan by the 1-in-10 date if a freeze would cost you plants. Stations are NOAA's main weather stations, mostly airports. “Zone nearby” is the USDA 2023 zone of the nearest ZIP code within 10 miles. NOAA counts the frost season from August to July, so in the warmest places the “first fall” freeze lands after New Year.
How these dates work
Frost dates come from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 Climate Normals, which work out from each weather station's daily lows how likely the last spring freeze and the first fall freeze (32 °F) are by each date. We use the station nearest the middle of your ZIP code and show its height and distance, since a station on a hill or by a lake can differ from your yard.
The average date is the 50% date: half of years have a freeze after the spring date or before the fall one. The 1-in-10 dates are NOAA's 10% dates, the ones to plan by if a late freeze would cost you plants. Within one yard, cold air pools in low spots while walls and paving hold heat, so some corners freeze before others.
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Where the numbers come from
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
- PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University (zone data)
- NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal
- NOAA, Normals calculation methodology (frost-freeze probability dates)
- US Census Bureau, 2025 ZCTA gazetteer (ZIP code centers)