Frost Dates in South Dakota
Across 166 NOAA weather stations in South Dakota, the average last spring frost falls between April 26 at Sioux Falls Wfo Airport and June 1 at Hill City. At a typical South Dakota station it is around May 8, with the first fall frost around October 1 and a frost-free season of about 145 days.
Find the frost dates for your ZIP code
A typical South Dakota season
What shapes frost dates in South Dakota
- The frost-free season ranges from 102 days at Hill City to 169 days at Sioux Falls Wfo Airport.
- Elevation matters: Custer Co Airport, at 5,545 ft, averages its last frost on May 23, while Victor 4 N, at 1,095 ft, averages May 4.
- 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | May 9 | May 22 | Sep 26 | 139 |
| Aberdeen 35 WNW | May 10 | May 22 | Sep 30 | 143 |
| Buffalo 13 ESE | May 20 | Jun 2 | Sep 19 | 120 |
| Buffalo Asos | May 10 | May 23 | Oct 1 | 141 |
| Chamberlain Muni Airport | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 7 | 158 |
| Custer Co Airport | May 23 | Jun 6 | Sep 24 | 122 |
| Faith Muni Airport | May 7 | May 20 | Oct 3 | 147 |
| Huron Rgnl Airport | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 2 | 146 |
| Mitchell Muni Airport | Apr 30 | May 13 | Oct 5 | 159 |
| Mobridge Muni Airport | May 5 | May 20 | Oct 4 | 150 |
| Philip Airport | May 11 | May 24 | Sep 30 | 141 |
| Pierre 24 S | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 7 | 154 |
| Pierre Rgnl Airport | May 6 | May 21 | Oct 3 | 148 |
| Pine Ridge Airport | May 16 | May 31 | Sep 27 | 132 |
| Rapid City Rgnl Airport | May 12 | May 26 | Oct 1 | 139 |
| Sioux Falls | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 6 | 157 |
| Sioux Falls 14 NNE | May 1 | May 15 | Oct 4 | 155 |
| Sisseton Muni Airport | May 3 | May 16 | Sep 30 | 149 |
| Watertown Rgnl Airport | May 7 | May 20 | Sep 30 | 145 |
| Winner Wiley Fld | May 1 | May 15 | Oct 10 | 162 |
| Yankton 2 E | Apr 27 | May 10 | Oct 11 | 164 |
All 166 weather stations in South Dakota
| Station | Elevation (ft) | Last frost | Safer date | First frost | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | 1,302 | May 9 | May 22 | Sep 26 | 139 |
| Aberdeen 3 E | 1,301 | May 8 | May 21 | Sep 29 | 144 |
| Aberdeen 35 WNW | 1,957 | May 10 | May 22 | Sep 30 | 143 |
| Academy 2NE | 1,681 | Apr 30 | May 14 | Oct 8 | 159 |
| Alexandria | 1,365 | May 8 | May 21 | Sep 29 | 143 |
| Andover #2 | 1,478 | May 6 | May 21 | Oct 4 | 150 |
| Antelope Rs | 2,820 | May 19 | Jun 2 | Sep 19 | 121 |
| Ardmore 1 NW | 3,540 | May 16 | May 31 | Sep 23 | 128 |
| Arlington 1 W | 1,824 | May 3 | May 15 | Oct 2 | 151 |
| Armour | 1,510 | May 3 | May 18 | Oct 6 | 157 |
| Astoria 4S | 1,890 | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 3 | 150 |
| Bear Ridge | 3,900 | May 17 | May 30 | Sep 27 | 132 |
| Belle Fourche | 3,020 | May 10 | May 25 | Sep 30 | 143 |
| Belle Fourche 22 NNW | 3,200 | May 15 | May 28 | Sep 24 | 130 |
| Bison | 2,780 | May 10 | May 24 | Oct 1 | 144 |
| Bonesteel | 1,985 | May 3 | May 15 | Oct 10 | 159 |
| Bridgewater | 1,417 | Apr 30 | May 11 | Oct 7 | 161 |
| Britton | 1,355 | May 13 | May 27 | Sep 26 | 135 |
| Brookings 2 NE | 1,639 | May 6 | May 19 | Oct 1 | 145 |
| Buffalo 13 ESE | 2,883 | May 20 | Jun 2 | Sep 19 | 120 |
| Buffalo Asos | 3,004 | May 10 | May 23 | Oct 1 | 141 |
| Camp Crook | 3,120 | May 17 | May 30 | Sep 24 | 128 |
| Canton | 1,316 | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 2 | 151 |
| Castlewood | 1,685 | May 10 | May 23 | Sep 27 | 139 |
| Castlewood #2 | 1,689 | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 1 | 145 |
| Cedar Butte | 2,355 | May 6 | May 22 | Oct 4 | 151 |
| Centerville 6 SE | 1,276 | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 1 | 151 |
| Chamberlain 5 S | 1,704 | May 3 | May 17 | Oct 7 | 156 |
| Chamberlain Muni Airport | 1,703 | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 7 | 158 |
| Clark | 1,804 | May 5 | May 18 | Oct 5 | 153 |
| Clark NO2 | 1,814 | May 5 | May 17 | Oct 5 | 152 |
| Clear Lake | 1,812 | May 7 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 146 |
| Columbia 8 N | 1,305 | May 7 | May 22 | Sep 29 | 145 |
| Conde | 1,330 | May 6 | May 20 | Sep 29 | 144 |
| Cottonwood 2 E | 2,373 | May 16 | May 29 | Sep 26 | 132 |
| Custer | 5,480 | May 18 | Jun 1 | Sep 28 | 129 |
| Custer Co Airport | 5,545 | May 23 | Jun 6 | Sep 24 | 122 |
| De Smet | 1,705 | May 5 | May 20 | Oct 4 | 151 |
| Deadwood | 4,670 | May 24 | Jun 6 | Sep 25 | 125 |
| Dupree | 2,388 | May 8 | May 22 | Oct 1 | 144 |
| Dupree 15 SSE | 2,100 | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 2 | 148 |
| Edgemont | 3,432 | May 23 | Jun 7 | Sep 20 | 117 |
| Edgemont 23 NNW | 4,402 | May 18 | Jun 1 | Sep 27 | 130 |
| Elm Springs 3 ESE | 2,645 | May 8 | May 22 | Oct 3 | 146 |
| Eureka | 1,871 | May 12 | May 25 | Sep 27 | 137 |
| Faith | 2,592 | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 5 | 151 |
| Faith Muni Airport | 2,580 | May 7 | May 20 | Oct 3 | 147 |
| Faulkton 1 NW | 1,597 | May 10 | May 25 | Sep 28 | 139 |
| Flandreau | 1,567 | May 5 | May 17 | Oct 1 | 148 |
| Forestburg 4 NNE | 1,277 | May 9 | May 24 | Sep 28 | 140 |
| Ft Meade | 3,308 | May 8 | May 21 | Oct 3 | 147 |
| Ft Pierre 17 WSW | 1,590 | May 10 | May 25 | Sep 27 | 138 |
| Gann Valley 3 NNE | 1,646 | May 7 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 146 |
| Gann Valley 4NW | 1,720 | May 6 | May 19 | Oct 1 | 148 |
| Gettysburg | 2,084 | May 7 | May 21 | Oct 2 | 147 |
| Glad Valley 2 W | 2,487 | May 11 | May 24 | Sep 30 | 140 |
| Gregory | 2,160 | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 3 | 149 |
| Harrington | 2,980 | May 11 | May 24 | Oct 1 | 143 |
| Harrold 12 SSW | 1,701 | May 17 | May 31 | Sep 24 | 129 |
| Hereford 12 SW | 2,810 | May 8 | May 22 | Oct 3 | 147 |
| Highmore 1 W | 1,888 | May 12 | May 28 | Oct 1 | 142 |
| Highmore 23 N | 1,870 | May 14 | May 25 | Sep 29 | 138 |
| Hill City | 4,946 | Jun 1 | Jun 19 | Sep 10 | 102 |
| Hoover | 2,773 | May 19 | May 31 | Sep 21 | 122 |
| Hot Springs | 3,560 | May 16 | May 31 | Sep 27 | 133 |
| Howard | 1,570 | May 5 | May 18 | Oct 2 | 149 |
| Huron Rgnl Airport | 1,280 | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 2 | 146 |
| Interior 3 NE | 2,440 | May 5 | May 20 | Oct 7 | 152 |
| Ipswich | 1,547 | May 8 | May 22 | Sep 29 | 143 |
| Johnson Siding | 4,184 | May 20 | Jun 3 | Sep 25 | 126 |
| Kennebec | 1,681 | May 12 | May 26 | Sep 28 | 137 |
| Kirley 6 N | 2,160 | May 6 | May 21 | Oct 4 | 148 |
| Kyle 2 E | 2,958 | May 11 | May 27 | Oct 1 | 139 |
| Ladner 9SW | 3,000 | May 13 | May 25 | Sep 27 | 135 |
| Lake Sharpe Prj | 1,461 | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 5 | 152 |
| Lead | 5,112 | May 18 | Jun 1 | Sep 29 | 133 |
| Lemmon | 2,567 | May 10 | May 24 | Sep 30 | 142 |
| Leola | 1,580 | May 9 | May 21 | Sep 28 | 141 |
| Lodgepole 5SW | 2,570 | May 30 | Jun 13 | Sep 11 | 103 |
| Longvalley | 2,470 | May 9 | May 24 | Oct 1 | 143 |
| Ludlow 3 SSE | 2,990 | May 16 | May 29 | Sep 26 | 131 |
| Madison 2SE | 1,643 | May 5 | May 18 | Sep 30 | 148 |
| Manderson 3 NE | 3,095 | May 9 | May 24 | Oct 4 | 147 |
| Martin | 3,330 | May 13 | May 27 | Oct 2 | 141 |
| Martin 8 E | 3,036 | May 14 | May 28 | Oct 1 | 139 |
| Maurine 12SW | 2,629 | May 13 | May 27 | Sep 28 | 136 |
| Mc Intosh 6 SE | 2,179 | May 9 | May 24 | Sep 30 | 143 |
| Mc Laughlin | 2,001 | May 12 | May 25 | Sep 28 | 137 |
| Mellette 4 W | 1,296 | May 11 | May 23 | Sep 27 | 137 |
| Menno | 1,332 | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 4 | 156 |
| Midland | 1,870 | May 12 | May 26 | Sep 28 | 138 |
| Milbank | 1,142 | May 5 | May 18 | Oct 2 | 150 |
| Milbank 4 NW | 1,145 | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 4 | 153 |
| Milesville 5 NE | 2,237 | May 8 | May 22 | Oct 2 | 147 |
| Miller | 1,576 | May 3 | May 16 | Oct 3 | 152 |
| Mission | 2,587 | May 9 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 146 |
| Mission 14 S | 2,810 | May 11 | May 25 | Oct 2 | 145 |
| Mission Ridge 5NW | 1,982 | May 6 | May 22 | Oct 7 | 152 |
| Mitchell | 1,287 | Apr 27 | May 10 | Oct 11 | 167 |
| Mitchell 2 N | 1,250 | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 6 | 156 |
| Mitchell Muni Airport | 1,303 | Apr 30 | May 13 | Oct 5 | 159 |
| Mobridge 2NNW | 1,693 | May 3 | May 16 | Oct 8 | 157 |
| Mobridge Muni Airport | 1,715 | May 5 | May 20 | Oct 4 | 150 |
| Montrose 8N | 1,718 | May 3 | May 15 | Oct 4 | 153 |
| Mt Rushmore Nmem | 5,311 | May 15 | May 29 | Oct 1 | 138 |
| Murdo | 2,316 | May 3 | May 16 | Oct 9 | 158 |
| Newell | 2,860 | May 8 | May 22 | Oct 1 | 144 |
| Oahe Dam | 1,663 | May 6 | May 19 | Oct 5 | 152 |
| Oelrichs | 3,348 | May 15 | May 28 | Sep 30 | 137 |
| Oglala 1S | 2,995 | May 7 | May 21 | Oct 4 | 149 |
| Onida 4 NW | 1,851 | May 8 | May 22 | Oct 2 | 147 |
| Oral | 2,960 | May 15 | May 28 | Sep 27 | 133 |
| Pactola Dam | 4,720 | May 28 | Jun 11 | Sep 18 | 112 |
| Philip Airport | 2,206 | May 11 | May 24 | Sep 30 | 141 |
| Pickstown | 1,490 | Apr 30 | May 12 | Oct 13 | 165 |
| Pickstown 4SSW | 1,707 | Apr 27 | May 11 | Oct 13 | 168 |
| Pierre 24 S | 2,124 | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 7 | 154 |
| Pierre Rgnl Airport | 1,742 | May 6 | May 21 | Oct 3 | 148 |
| Pine Ridge Airport | 3,278 | May 16 | May 31 | Sep 27 | 132 |
| Plainview 6 SSW | 2,377 | May 15 | May 29 | Sep 27 | 134 |
| Pollock | 1,639 | May 8 | May 21 | Sep 30 | 143 |
| Porcupine 11 N | 2,820 | May 17 | Jun 1 | Sep 25 | 130 |
| Presho 7 NW | 1,810 | May 12 | May 28 | Sep 29 | 140 |
| Ralph 1 N | 2,790 | May 18 | May 31 | Sep 23 | 126 |
| Rapid City 4NW | 3,479 | May 10 | May 25 | Oct 5 | 147 |
| Rapid City Rgnl Airport | 3,160 | May 12 | May 26 | Oct 1 | 139 |
| Rapid City Wfo | 3,379 | May 3 | May 17 | Oct 8 | 157 |
| Rauville 2 W | 1,737 | May 7 | May 20 | Sep 28 | 143 |
| Red Owl | 2,773 | May 16 | May 27 | Sep 26 | 131 |
| Redfield | 1,309 | May 8 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 145 |
| Redig 11 NE | 3,070 | May 15 | May 27 | Sep 24 | 131 |
| Roscoe | 1,835 | May 7 | May 20 | Oct 3 | 148 |
| Roy Lake | 1,810 | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 9 | 160 |
| Salem 5NE | 1,594 | May 7 | May 19 | Sep 29 | 144 |
| Selby | 1,908 | May 8 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 145 |
| Shadehill Rsvr | 2,450 | May 16 | May 29 | Sep 24 | 131 |
| Sioux Falls | 1,430 | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 6 | 157 |
| Sioux Falls 14 NNE | 1,594 | May 1 | May 15 | Oct 4 | 155 |
| Sioux Falls Wfo Airport | 1,430 | Apr 26 | May 9 | Oct 13 | 169 |
| Sisseton | 1,209 | May 4 | May 17 | Oct 3 | 151 |
| Sisseton Muni Airport | 1,161 | May 3 | May 16 | Sep 30 | 149 |
| Spearfish | 3,633 | May 12 | May 25 | Oct 2 | 143 |
| Stephan 2 NW | 1,805 | May 10 | May 24 | Sep 29 | 140 |
| Summit 1 W | 1,955 | May 14 | May 28 | Sep 28 | 136 |
| Timber Lake | 2,173 | May 10 | May 23 | Sep 30 | 141 |
| Turton | 1,335 | May 7 | May 22 | Oct 3 | 149 |
| Tyndall | 1,420 | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 7 | 158 |
| Vermillion 2 SE | 1,137 | May 3 | May 16 | Oct 3 | 153 |
| Victor 4 N | 1,095 | May 4 | May 17 | Oct 3 | 152 |
| Wagner | 1,430 | Apr 29 | May 12 | Oct 9 | 164 |
| Wasta | 2,328 | May 10 | May 25 | Oct 1 | 141 |
| Watertown 2 S | 1,772 | May 3 | May 14 | Oct 4 | 153 |
| Watertown Rgnl Airport | 1,748 | May 7 | May 20 | Sep 30 | 145 |
| Waubay Natl Wild Life | 1,827 | May 1 | May 12 | Oct 12 | 164 |
| Webster | 1,861 | May 4 | May 16 | Oct 6 | 156 |
| Wentworth 2.5 WNW | 1,722 | May 2 | May 14 | Oct 5 | 156 |
| Wessington Springs | 1,715 | May 2 | May 14 | Oct 8 | 157 |
| White Lake | 1,629 | May 3 | May 17 | Oct 5 | 153 |
| Wilmot | 1,201 | May 5 | May 18 | Oct 1 | 149 |
| Wind Cave | 4,155 | May 15 | May 30 | Sep 29 | 133 |
| Winfred 2S | 1,705 | May 6 | May 17 | Oct 3 | 151 |
| Winner | 2,016 | May 1 | May 16 | Oct 9 | 159 |
| Winner Wiley Fld | 2,032 | May 1 | May 15 | Oct 10 | 162 |
| Wood | 2,180 | May 10 | May 22 | Oct 1 | 143 |
| Yankton 2 E | 1,180 | Apr 27 | May 10 | Oct 11 | 164 |
| Zeona 10 SSW | 2,730 | May 11 | May 27 | Sep 28 | 137 |
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.
Frost dates in other states
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