Frost Dates in North Dakota
Across 125 NOAA weather stations in North Dakota, the average last spring frost falls between May 2 at Hillsboro 3 N and May 24 at Hettinger Muni Airport. At a typical North Dakota station it is around May 13, with the first fall frost around September 27 and a frost-free season of about 136 days.
Find the frost dates for your ZIP code
A typical North Dakota season
What shapes frost dates in North Dakota
- The frost-free season ranges from 115 days at Hettinger Muni Airport to 158 days at Hillsboro 3 N.
- Elevation matters: Bowman, at 2,983 ft, averages its last frost on May 16, while Pembina, at 790 ft, averages May 16.
- Gardens in valleys and low spots, where cold air settles, often frost a week or more later in spring than the nearest station.
Frost dates at major airports
| Station | Last frost | Safer date | First frost | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | May 14 | May 27 | Sep 27 | 136 |
| Devils Lake Kdlr | May 6 | May 19 | Oct 5 | 152 |
| Fargo Hector Intl Airport | May 10 | May 23 | Sep 30 | 143 |
| Garrison | May 14 | May 28 | Sep 26 | 133 |
| Grand Forks Intl Airport | May 16 | May 31 | Sep 27 | 133 |
| Hettinger Muni Airport | May 24 | Jun 10 | Sep 18 | 115 |
| Jamestown 38 WSW | May 14 | May 26 | Sep 27 | 135 |
| Jamestown Muni Airport | May 11 | May 24 | Sep 28 | 138 |
| Medora 7 E | May 9 | May 21 | Sep 30 | 142 |
| Minot Intl Airport | May 10 | May 22 | Oct 1 | 144 |
| Northgate 5 ESE | May 20 | Jun 2 | Sep 19 | 121 |
| Pembina | May 16 | May 31 | Sep 29 | 137 |
| Theodore Roosevelt Airport | May 18 | May 31 | Sep 25 | 129 |
| Williston Sloulin Intl Airport | May 21 | Jun 3 | Sep 21 | 123 |
All 125 weather stations in North Dakota
| Station | Elevation (ft) | Last frost | Safer date | First frost | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Almont | 1,915 | May 17 | Jun 1 | Sep 21 | 124 |
| Amidon | 2,910 | May 12 | May 28 | Sep 29 | 136 |
| Ashley | 2,014 | May 13 | May 26 | Sep 28 | 137 |
| Beach | 2,800 | May 16 | May 30 | Sep 26 | 130 |
| Belcourt Keya Radio | 1,960 | May 19 | Jun 1 | Sep 24 | 126 |
| Beulah 1 W | 1,785 | May 21 | Jun 3 | Sep 20 | 121 |
| Bismarck | 1,658 | May 14 | May 27 | Sep 27 | 136 |
| Bismarck 2.4 NNW | 1,831 | May 10 | May 23 | Sep 30 | 142 |
| Bismarck Wfo | 1,651 | May 14 | May 27 | Sep 30 | 138 |
| Bottineau | 1,619 | May 15 | May 28 | Sep 25 | 133 |
| Bowman | 2,983 | May 16 | May 29 | Sep 25 | 132 |
| Breien | 1,720 | May 12 | May 27 | Sep 24 | 134 |
| Butte 5SE | 1,720 | May 16 | May 31 | Sep 28 | 134 |
| Carrington | 1,586 | May 10 | May 23 | Sep 28 | 139 |
| Carrington 4 N | 1,560 | May 12 | May 25 | Sep 27 | 137 |
| Carson | 2,335 | May 19 | Jun 1 | Sep 25 | 127 |
| Casselton Agronomy Farm | 935 | May 9 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 143 |
| Cavalier 7NW | 899 | May 12 | May 27 | Sep 30 | 139 |
| Center 4SE | 1,990 | May 11 | May 26 | Sep 29 | 140 |
| Colgate | 1,180 | May 10 | May 25 | Sep 24 | 136 |
| Cooperstown | 1,380 | May 17 | Jun 1 | Sep 23 | 128 |
| Crosby | 1,959 | May 17 | May 28 | Sep 23 | 128 |
| Devils Lake | 1,440 | May 12 | May 24 | Sep 30 | 141 |
| Devils Lake Kdlr | 1,464 | May 6 | May 19 | Oct 5 | 152 |
| Dickinson | 2,460 | May 20 | Jun 1 | Sep 22 | 123 |
| Dickinson Rch Hq | 2,380 | May 18 | May 31 | Sep 24 | 127 |
| Drake 9 NE | 1,547 | May 12 | May 25 | Sep 27 | 137 |
| Dunn Ctr 1E | 2,187 | May 20 | Jun 1 | Sep 21 | 125 |
| Edgeley 3WNW | 1,623 | May 7 | May 20 | Oct 2 | 148 |
| Edmore 4NW | 1,539 | May 15 | May 31 | Sep 22 | 128 |
| Edmunds Arrowwood Ref | 1,460 | May 11 | May 25 | Sep 28 | 139 |
| Ellendale | 1,455 | May 4 | May 17 | Oct 2 | 149 |
| Enderlin 2W | 1,164 | May 3 | May 16 | Oct 5 | 155 |
| Esmond 9 NNW | 1,632 | May 11 | May 23 | Sep 28 | 138 |
| Fairfield | 2,750 | May 12 | May 27 | Sep 28 | 138 |
| Fargo 3S | 908 | May 4 | May 18 | Oct 2 | 151 |
| Fargo Hector Intl Airport | 900 | May 10 | May 23 | Sep 30 | 143 |
| Fessenden | 1,620 | May 13 | May 26 | Sep 28 | 139 |
| Flasher | 1,980 | May 13 | May 28 | Sep 27 | 135 |
| Forman 5 SSE | 1,250 | May 7 | May 20 | Oct 1 | 146 |
| Fortuna 1 W | 2,350 | May 19 | May 31 | Sep 17 | 121 |
| Foxholm 7 N | 1,675 | May 11 | May 29 | Sep 29 | 138 |
| Fullerton 1 ESE | 1,435 | May 9 | May 23 | Sep 28 | 141 |
| Gackle | 1,951 | May 6 | May 19 | Oct 4 | 150 |
| Garrison | 1,932 | May 12 | May 24 | Sep 30 | 140 |
| Garrison | 1,910 | May 14 | May 28 | Sep 26 | 133 |
| Grafton | 827 | May 4 | May 18 | Oct 7 | 156 |
| Grand Forks Intl Airport | 842 | May 16 | May 31 | Sep 27 | 133 |
| Grand Forks Univ (nws) | 830 | May 10 | May 24 | Oct 1 | 144 |
| Granville | 1,510 | May 9 | May 22 | Oct 1 | 145 |
| Grassy Butte 2ENE | 2,670 | May 18 | Jun 1 | Sep 23 | 125 |
| Hansboro 4 NNE | 1,540 | May 18 | May 31 | Sep 23 | 127 |
| Harvey 4NE | 1,611 | May 12 | May 25 | Sep 26 | 135 |
| Hazelton 4NW | 1,982 | May 12 | May 27 | Sep 27 | 136 |
| Heart Butte Dam | 2,134 | May 14 | May 28 | Sep 29 | 136 |
| Hebron | 2,160 | May 19 | Jun 2 | Sep 21 | 123 |
| Hettinger Exp Stn | 2,703 | May 21 | Jun 5 | Sep 21 | 120 |
| Hettinger Muni Airport | 2,705 | May 24 | Jun 10 | Sep 18 | 115 |
| Hillsboro 3 N | 910 | May 2 | May 17 | Oct 9 | 158 |
| Jamestown 38 WSW | 1,920 | May 14 | May 26 | Sep 27 | 135 |
| Jamestown Muni Airport | 1,494 | May 11 | May 24 | Sep 28 | 138 |
| Jamestown State Hosp | 1,467 | May 8 | May 21 | Sep 29 | 143 |
| Keene 3S | 2,470 | May 20 | Jun 2 | Sep 20 | 121 |
| Kenmare 1 WSW | 1,810 | May 15 | May 28 | Sep 23 | 129 |
| Killdeer | 2,310 | May 21 | Jun 5 | Sep 23 | 124 |
| La Moure | 1,334 | May 10 | May 22 | Sep 28 | 140 |
| Lake Metigoshe Sp | 2,142 | May 17 | May 30 | Sep 24 | 130 |
| Langdon Exp Farm | 1,615 | May 17 | May 30 | Sep 26 | 132 |
| Larimore 4SW | 1,152 | May 11 | May 25 | Sep 28 | 139 |
| Leeds | 1,530 | May 15 | May 27 | Sep 27 | 133 |
| Lidgerwood | 1,125 | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 6 | 157 |
| Linton | 1,690 | May 12 | May 26 | Sep 29 | 138 |
| Lisbon | 1,149 | May 12 | May 23 | Sep 27 | 136 |
| Mandan Exp Stn | 1,750 | May 13 | May 26 | Sep 27 | 136 |
| Max | 2,110 | May 10 | May 25 | Sep 28 | 141 |
| Mayville | 983 | May 13 | May 25 | Sep 27 | 136 |
| Mc Clusky | 1,927 | May 8 | May 20 | Oct 1 | 145 |
| Mc Henry 3W | 1,555 | May 12 | May 25 | Sep 28 | 139 |
| Mc Leod 3 E | 1,075 | May 6 | May 19 | Sep 29 | 145 |
| Medora | 2,268 | May 19 | Jun 1 | Sep 20 | 123 |
| Medora 7 E | 2,771 | May 9 | May 21 | Sep 30 | 142 |
| Minnewaukan | 1,470 | May 12 | May 25 | Sep 29 | 138 |
| Minot Exp Stn | 1,769 | May 13 | May 26 | Sep 27 | 136 |
| Minot Intl Airport | 1,665 | May 10 | May 22 | Oct 1 | 144 |
| Moffit 3 SE | 1,800 | May 11 | May 27 | Sep 29 | 139 |
| Mohall | 1,641 | May 17 | May 30 | Sep 23 | 127 |
| Mott | 2,426 | May 16 | May 30 | Sep 25 | 129 |
| Napoleon | 1,980 | May 13 | May 26 | Sep 28 | 136 |
| New England | 2,600 | May 16 | May 29 | Sep 24 | 128 |
| New Salem 5NW | 2,150 | May 18 | Jun 1 | Sep 24 | 127 |
| Northgate 5 ESE | 1,842 | May 20 | Jun 2 | Sep 19 | 121 |
| Oakes | 1,324 | May 8 | May 21 | Sep 28 | 144 |
| Pembina | 790 | May 16 | May 31 | Sep 29 | 137 |
| Petersburg 2 N | 1,532 | May 11 | May 25 | Sep 28 | 138 |
| Powers Lake 1N | 2,205 | May 18 | Jun 1 | Sep 17 | 119 |
| Pretty Rock | 2,480 | May 20 | Jun 3 | Sep 23 | 124 |
| Richardton Abbey | 2,470 | May 9 | May 23 | Oct 1 | 145 |
| Riverdale | 1,962 | May 12 | May 27 | Oct 3 | 143 |
| Rolette 3SE | 1,620 | May 22 | Jun 3 | Sep 20 | 120 |
| Rolla 1NE | 1,833 | May 20 | May 31 | Sep 26 | 128 |
| Rugby | 1,550 | May 17 | May 31 | Sep 23 | 129 |
| Stanley 3 NNW | 2,280 | May 17 | May 29 | Sep 23 | 127 |
| Steele 4N | 1,853 | May 15 | May 28 | Sep 25 | 133 |
| Streeter 5 NW | 1,961 | May 13 | May 27 | Sep 30 | 139 |
| Taylor 7 NNW | 2,220 | May 23 | Jun 5 | Sep 20 | 119 |
| Theodore Roosevelt Airport | 2,580 | May 18 | May 31 | Sep 25 | 129 |
| Tioga 1E | 2,245 | May 11 | May 24 | Sep 26 | 136 |
| Towner 2 NE | 1,480 | May 17 | Jun 1 | Sep 22 | 126 |
| Trotters 3 SSE | 2,420 | May 15 | May 29 | Sep 25 | 132 |
| Turtle Lake | 1,893 | May 14 | May 26 | Sep 26 | 136 |
| Tuttle 12NNE | 2,100 | May 13 | May 28 | Sep 29 | 139 |
| Underwood | 2,045 | May 10 | May 25 | Sep 29 | 139 |
| Upham 3 N | 1,425 | May 15 | May 26 | Sep 25 | 132 |
| Valley City 3 NNW | 1,210 | May 13 | May 25 | Sep 26 | 136 |
| Velva | 1,510 | May 22 | Jun 3 | Sep 22 | 123 |
| Washburn | 1,755 | May 12 | May 25 | Sep 30 | 140 |
| Watford City | 2,170 | May 9 | May 22 | Sep 27 | 139 |
| Watford City 14S | 2,027 | May 22 | Jun 7 | Sep 17 | 119 |
| Westhope | 1,502 | May 14 | May 26 | Sep 25 | 133 |
| Wildrose 3NW | 2,227 | May 18 | May 30 | Sep 20 | 124 |
| Williston Exp Farm | 2,105 | May 13 | May 25 | Sep 26 | 135 |
| Williston Sloulin Intl Airport | 1,902 | May 21 | Jun 3 | Sep 21 | 123 |
| Willow City | 1,473 | May 21 | Jun 1 | Sep 20 | 119 |
| Wilton | 2,188 | May 11 | May 25 | Sep 30 | 142 |
| Wishek | 2,037 | May 13 | May 28 | Sep 27 | 135 |
No station matches that name. Try a nearby town, or look up your ZIP code above.
Last frost and first frost are averages (a 50% chance of frost later in spring or earlier in fall). Safer date is the spring date with only a 10% chance of a later frost.
Using these dates
Plant hardy crops like peas and spinach several weeks before your last frost, and tender crops like tomatoes and peppers after it, once nights stay above 50°F. The Seed Starting Calculator turns your frost date into sowing and planting dates, and When to Plant Tomatoes explains the timing in detail.
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32°F threshold.
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