ROOTED IN REAL DATA Historical data. Thoughtful planning. No weather guarantees.
South Dakota · NOAA station reference

Stephan 2 Nw
frost dates.

A source-backed view of historical freeze risk at this weather station. Use it to understand the season, not as a promise about your garden or this year’s weather.

Seasonal freeze reference
Modeled annual freeze occurrence: 100%. Date percentiles below are conditional on a cold season containing a 32°F freeze, not all years.
Last spring 32°F freeze · conditional medianMay 10
First fall 32°F freeze · conditional medianSep 29
Days between conditional medians142 days
Uncertainty, made visible

One date never tells
the whole season.

1991–2020 station normals
32°F minimum-temperature threshold

Last spring freeze

Among cold seasons with a freeze: probability of the last occurrence on this date or later.

10%May 24
30%May 16
50%May 10Median reference
70%May 5
90%Apr 29

The 10% date is later in spring than the median: a more cautious historical reference, still not a guarantee.

First fall freeze

Among cold seasons with a freeze: probability of the first occurrence on this date or earlier.

10%Sep 16
30%Sep 24
50%Sep 29Median reference
70%Oct 3
90%Oct 11

The 10% date is earlier in fall than the median: a more cautious harvest-planning reference.

These percentages are conditional on a cold season containing a 32°F freeze; they are not probabilities across all years. They describe historical climate, not this season’s forecast. The spring and fall probability directions are intentionally different. A garden can be warmer or colder than the reference station.

An explicit planning choice

Try a harvest scenario.

If a historical freeze reference fits your crop and regional guidance, you can choose it as a calculator target. This action does not turn the date into a recommended harvest deadline.

Choose a planning year.

Percentiles are conditional on a cold season with a freeze. Some crops tolerate freezing; others need warmth well before it. Check crop and local guidance first.

Know the evidence

The reference
behind the numbers.

Official station name
STEPHAN 2 NW, SD US
NOAA station ID
USC00397992
Coordinates
44.2661, -99.4431
Station elevation
550.2 m / 1805 ft
Normal period
1991–2020
Source retrieved
2026-10-02
Source modified
Tue, 27 Jun 2023 15:16:19 GMT
Original NOAA station record
Put the data in context

A baseline.
Not a forecast.

Weather stations measure a particular location. Differences in elevation, exposure, nearby water, terrain and urban heat can change conditions in an individual garden.

  • 32°F is the station air-temperature threshold; visible frost on leaves can differ.
  • Median dates still leave substantial historical freeze risk.
  • Historical normals summarize 1991–2020, not current weather.
  • Crop suitability requires regional horticultural guidance, soil warmth, cultivar and day length.
Understand the method Check the current NWS forecast
Traceable, down to the field

How strong is this reference?

Source variableHistorical dateYearsNOAA completeness
Last spring freeze · 10%May 2417R · Representative
Last spring freeze · 30%May 1617R · Representative
Last spring freeze · 50%May 1017R · Representative
First fall freeze · 10%Sep 1617R · Representative
First fall freeze · 30%Sep 2417R · Representative
First fall freeze · 50%Sep 2917R · Representative

Our ordinary calendar model requires supported dates and standard/representative source quality with at least 10 years. This does not erase local uncertainty.

Explore the geographic connection

Places using this nearby reference

Connections are based on Census internal points and straight-line distance.

A wider view

Other South Dakota references

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