Frost dates · 14 cities · zones 5a–5b
Iowa frost dates, city by city
Median last spring frost across 14 Iowa cities runs from April 18 in Des Moines to April 29 in Sioux City.
| City | Zone | Last frost median | First frost median | Season | Jan → Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | 5b | Apr 18 | Oct 20 | 184 d | |
| Cedar Rapids | 5b | Apr 28 | Oct 12 | 166 d | |
| Davenport | 5b | Apr 23 | Oct 15 | 174 d | |
| Sioux City | 5a | Apr 29 | Oct 7 | 161 d | |
| Ankeny | 5b | Apr 23 | Oct 15 | 173 d | |
| Iowa City | 5b | Apr 21 | Oct 18 | 180 d | |
| West Des Moines | 5b | Apr 18 | Oct 20 | 184 d | |
| Ames | 5b | Apr 26 | Oct 8 | 164 d | |
| Waterloo | 5a | Apr 27 | Oct 10 | 165 d | |
| Council Bluffs | 5b | Apr 18 | Oct 21 | 185 d | |
| Dubuque | 5a | Apr 19 | Oct 21 | 184 d | |
| Urbandale | 5b | Apr 18 | Oct 20 | 184 d | |
| Marion | 5a | Apr 28 | Oct 12 | 166 d | |
| Cedar Falls | 5a | Apr 27 | Oct 10 | 165 d |
Medians from NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals at each city's nearest qualifying station; zones from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Open a city for the 1-in-10-year dates, the station, and a planting calendar for every sauce crop.
All states →Build a plan from your ZIP →Earliest: Des Moines (Apr 18) · Latest: Sioux City (Apr 29)