Nebraska frost dates

Average last spring and first fall frost dates for Nebraska’s largest cities, with each city’s USDA hardiness zone.

Reviewed October 2026

Among Nebraska’s 20 largest cities, the average last spring frost ranges from Apr 16 in Omaha to May 11 in North Platte. Elevation, distance from the coast and city heat all shift the date, so use your own ZIP code below for the closest match.

City	Average last spring frost	Average first fall frost	Frost-free days	Hardiness zone	Weather station used
Omaha	Apr 16	Oct 18	185	6a	Omaha #1, NE, 6 mi
Lincoln	Apr 24	Oct 13	172	6a	Lincoln Muni Airport, NE, 5 mi
Bellevue	Apr 17	Oct 19	185	5b–6a	Springfield 7E, NE, 7 mi
Grand Island	Apr 23	Oct 15	175	5b	Grand Island Airport, NE, 4 mi
Kearney	Apr 30	Oct 10	163	5b	Kearney 4 Ne, NE, 4 mi
Fremont	Apr 23	Oct 15	175	5b	Fremont, NE
Norfolk	May 1	Oct 4	156	5b	Norfolk 4W, NE, 3 mi
Papillion	Apr 21	Oct 18	180	6a	Gretna 4Ne, NE, 6 mi
Hastings	Apr 22	Oct 16	177	6a	Hastings Muni Airport, NE, 2 mi
Columbus	Apr 21	Oct 15	177	5b	Columbus 3 Ne, NE, 2 mi
North Platte	May 11	Oct 1	143	5b	North Platte Rgnl Airport, NE, 4 mi
La Vista	Apr 21	Oct 18	180	6a	Gretna 4Ne, NE, 7 mi
Scottsbluff	May 8	Oct 3	148	5b	Scottsbluff 1E, NE
South Sioux City	Apr 29	Oct 7	161	5a	Sioux City Ang, IA, 5 mi
Beatrice	Apr 24	Oct 15	174	6a	Beatrice 1N, NE, 2 mi
Lexington	Apr 26	Oct 13	170	5b	Canaday Steam Plt, NE, 6 mi
Gretna	Apr 21	Oct 18	180	5b–6a	Gretna 4Ne, NE, 2 mi
Gering	May 8	Oct 3	148	5b	Scottsbluff 1E, NE, 3 mi
York	Apr 22	Oct 18	179	5b	York, NE
Alliance	May 11	Oct 3	145	5a	Alliance 1Wnw, NE

Frost dates are the dates after (spring) or before (fall) which the chance of a 32°F freeze is below 50%, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the weather station nearest each city’s center. Zones are from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for the ZIP codes around each city; a range means nearby ZIP codes differ. Cities are the 20 largest by Census Bureau 2024 population estimates.

An average is not a guarantee. There’s still about a 1 in 2 chance of frost after the average last spring date. Many gardeners wait an extra week or two before setting out tomatoes, peppers and basil, and keep covers handy.

Planting dates for Omaha

Timed from Omaha’s average last frost of Apr 16, using University of New Hampshire Extension’s planting guidance. For your exact dates, enter your ZIP code in the calendar below.

Crop	Start seeds indoors	Plant outside
Tomatoes	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 23 to Apr 30
Peppers	Feb 19 to Mar 5	Apr 30
Lettuce	Feb 12 to Feb 19	Mar 19 to Mar 26
Broccoli	Feb 5 to Feb 19	Mar 19 to Apr 2
Cucumbers	Mar 26 to Apr 2	Apr 23 to Apr 30
Basil	Mar 5 to Mar 19	Apr 30

When to plant, for your garden

Your seed-starting and planting dates, timed from your last spring frost. Full calendar, 12 crops.

ZIP code

Last frost date

Enter your ZIP code to look up your average last frost date and hardiness zone, or type the date in yourself.

Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Hardiness zones: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023, ZIP code data from PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed Oct. 20, 2026.

More about frost dates

How to find your last frost date, and what your zone means · Full planting calendar · How to start seeds indoors

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