Frost dates by state
South Dakota Frost Dates
Across South Dakota's 310 cities and towns, the average last spring frost runs from April 25 in Springfield to May 23 in Edgemont. Average last frost elsewhere: Sioux Falls Apr 26, Rapid City May 10 and Pierre May 6.
Frost dates for every city and town in South Dakota
Dates are for 32°F at the NOAA station nearest the ZIP code at each South Dakota town's center. "Safer date" is when only 1 year in 10 still gets a frost, a good target for tomatoes and peppers.
| City | Average last frost | Safer date | Average first frost | Frost-free days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | May 8 | May 21 | Sep 29 | 144 |
| Agar | May 8 | May 22 | Oct 2 | 147 |
| Akaska | May 8 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 146 |
| Albee | May 5 | May 18 | Oct 2 | 150 |
| Alcester | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 4 | 156 |
| Alexandria | May 8 | May 21 | Sep 29 | 144 |
| Alpena | May 2 | May 14 | Oct 8 | 159 |
| Altamont | May 7 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 147 |
| Andover | May 6 | May 21 | Oct 4 | 151 |
| Arlington | May 3 | May 15 | Oct 2 | 152 |
| Armour | May 3 | May 18 | Oct 6 | 156 |
| Artas | May 12 | May 25 | Sep 27 | 138 |
| Artesian | May 9 | May 24 | Sep 28 | 142 |
| Ashton | May 8 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 146 |
| Astoria | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 3 | 150 |
| Aurora | May 6 | May 19 | Oct 1 | 148 |
| Avon | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 7 | 159 |
| Badger | May 3 | May 15 | Oct 2 | 152 |
| Baltic | May 1 | May 15 | Oct 4 | 156 |
| Bancroft | May 5 | May 20 | Oct 4 | 152 |
| Batesland | May 11 | May 26 | Oct 2 | 144 |
| Belle Fourche | May 12 | May 25 | Oct 2 | 143 |
| Belvidere | May 6 | May 22 | Oct 4 | 151 |
| Beresford | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 1 | 152 |
| Big Stone City | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 4 | 155 |
| Bison | May 10 | May 24 | Oct 1 | 144 |
| Blunt | May 17 | May 31 | Sep 24 | 130 |
| Bonesteel | May 3 | May 15 | Oct 10 | 160 |
| Bowdle | May 7 | May 20 | Oct 3 | 149 |
| Box Elder | May 3 | May 17 | Oct 8 | 158 |
| Bradley | May 5 | May 18 | Oct 5 | 153 |
| Brandon | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 6 | 158 |
| Brandt | May 7 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 147 |
| Brant Lake | May 2 | May 14 | Oct 5 | 156 |
| Brentford | May 6 | May 20 | Sep 29 | 146 |
| Bridgewater | Apr 30 | May 11 | Oct 7 | 160 |
| Bristol | May 6 | May 21 | Oct 4 | 151 |
| Britton | May 13 | May 27 | Sep 26 | 136 |
| Broadland | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 2 | 149 |
| Brookings | May 6 | May 19 | Oct 1 | 148 |
| Bruce | May 6 | May 19 | Oct 1 | 148 |
| Bryant | May 5 | May 20 | Oct 4 | 152 |
| Buffalo | May 10 | May 23 | Oct 1 | 144 |
| Buffalo Gap | May 15 | May 28 | Sep 27 | 135 |
| Burke | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 3 | 150 |
| Bushnell | May 6 | May 19 | Oct 1 | 148 |
| Butler | May 6 | May 21 | Oct 4 | 151 |
| Camp Crook | May 17 | May 30 | Sep 24 | 130 |
| Canistota | May 7 | May 19 | Sep 29 | 145 |
| Canova | May 5 | May 18 | Oct 2 | 150 |
| Canton | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 2 | 153 |
| Carthage | May 5 | May 18 | Oct 2 | 150 |
| Castlewood | May 10 | May 23 | Sep 27 | 140 |
| Cavour | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 2 | 149 |
| Centerville | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 1 | 152 |
| Central City | May 18 | Jun 1 | Sep 29 | 134 |
| Chamberlain | May 3 | May 17 | Oct 7 | 157 |
| Chancellor | Apr 26 | May 9 | Oct 13 | 170 |
| Chelsea | May 11 | May 23 | Sep 27 | 139 |
| Claire City | May 4 | May 17 | Oct 3 | 152 |
| Claremont | May 7 | May 22 | Sep 29 | 145 |
| Clark | May 5 | May 18 | Oct 5 | 153 |
| Clear Lake | May 7 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 147 |
| Colman | May 2 | May 14 | Oct 5 | 156 |
| Colome | May 1 | May 16 | Oct 9 | 161 |
| Colton | May 3 | May 15 | Oct 4 | 154 |
| Columbia | May 7 | May 22 | Sep 29 | 145 |
| Conde | May 6 | May 20 | Sep 29 | 146 |
| Corona | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 4 | 155 |
| Corsica | May 3 | May 18 | Oct 6 | 156 |
| Cottonwood | May 16 | May 29 | Sep 26 | 133 |
| Cresbard | May 10 | May 25 | Sep 28 | 141 |
| Crooks | Apr 26 | May 9 | Oct 13 | 170 |
| Custer | May 23 | Jun 6 | Sep 24 | 124 |
| Dallas | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 3 | 150 |
| Dante | Apr 29 | May 12 | Oct 9 | 163 |
| Davis | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 1 | 152 |
| De Smet | May 5 | May 20 | Oct 4 | 152 |
| Deadwood | May 12 | May 25 | Oct 2 | 143 |
| Dell Rapids | May 1 | May 15 | Oct 4 | 156 |
| Delmont | May 3 | May 18 | Oct 6 | 156 |
| Dimock | May 8 | May 21 | Sep 29 | 144 |
| Doland | May 7 | May 22 | Oct 3 | 149 |
| Dolton | Apr 30 | May 11 | Oct 7 | 160 |
| Draper | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 7 | 154 |
| Dupree | May 8 | May 22 | Oct 1 | 146 |
| Eagle Butte | May 6 | May 22 | Oct 7 | 154 |
| Eden | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 9 | 160 |
| Edgemont | May 23 | Jun 7 | Sep 20 | 120 |
| Egan | May 5 | May 17 | Oct 1 | 149 |
| Elk Point | May 3 | May 16 | Oct 3 | 153 |
| Elkton | May 6 | May 19 | Oct 1 | 148 |
| Emery | Apr 30 | May 11 | Oct 7 | 160 |
| Erwin | May 5 | May 20 | Oct 4 | 152 |
| Estelline | May 10 | May 23 | Sep 27 | 140 |
| Ethan | May 8 | May 21 | Sep 29 | 144 |
| Eureka | May 12 | May 25 | Sep 27 | 138 |
| Fairburn | May 15 | May 28 | Sep 27 | 135 |
| Fairfax | May 3 | May 15 | Oct 10 | 160 |
| Fairview | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 2 | 153 |
| Faith | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 5 | 152 |
| Farmer | May 8 | May 21 | Sep 29 | 144 |
| Faulkton | May 10 | May 25 | Sep 28 | 141 |
| Flandreau | May 5 | May 17 | Oct 1 | 149 |
| Florence | May 7 | May 20 | Sep 28 | 144 |
| Fort Pierre | May 6 | May 19 | Oct 5 | 152 |
| Frankfort | May 8 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 146 |
| Frederick | May 4 | May 17 | Oct 2 | 151 |
| Freeman | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 4 | 156 |
| Fruitdale | May 8 | May 22 | Oct 1 | 146 |
| Fulton | Apr 30 | May 13 | Oct 5 | 158 |
| Garden City | May 5 | May 18 | Oct 5 | 153 |
| Garretson | May 1 | May 15 | Oct 4 | 156 |
| Gary | May 7 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 147 |
| Gayville | Apr 27 | May 10 | Oct 11 | 167 |
| Geddes | Apr 30 | May 12 | Oct 13 | 166 |
| Gettysburg | May 7 | May 21 | Oct 2 | 148 |
| Glenham | May 5 | May 20 | Oct 4 | 152 |
| Goodwin | May 7 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 147 |
| Gregory | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 3 | 150 |
| Grenville | May 1 | May 12 | Oct 12 | 164 |
| Groton | May 6 | May 21 | Oct 4 | 151 |
| Harrisburg | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 2 | 153 |
| Harrold | May 12 | May 28 | Oct 1 | 142 |
| Hartford | Apr 26 | May 9 | Oct 13 | 170 |
| Hayti | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 1 | 148 |
| Hazel | May 3 | May 14 | Oct 4 | 154 |
| Hecla | May 7 | May 22 | Sep 29 | 145 |
| Henry | May 7 | May 20 | Sep 30 | 146 |
| Hermosa | May 12 | May 26 | Oct 1 | 142 |
| Herreid | May 8 | May 21 | Sep 30 | 145 |
| Herrick | May 3 | May 15 | Oct 10 | 160 |
| Hetland | May 3 | May 15 | Oct 2 | 152 |
| Highmore | May 12 | May 28 | Oct 1 | 142 |
| Hill City | May 15 | May 29 | Oct 1 | 139 |
| Hillsview | May 7 | May 20 | Oct 3 | 149 |
| Hitchcock | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 2 | 149 |
| Hosmer | May 7 | May 20 | Oct 3 | 149 |
| Hot Springs | May 16 | May 31 | Sep 27 | 134 |
| Hoven | May 7 | May 21 | Oct 2 | 148 |
| Howard | May 5 | May 18 | Oct 2 | 150 |
| Hudson | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 2 | 153 |
| Humboldt | May 7 | May 19 | Sep 29 | 145 |
| Hurley | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 1 | 152 |
| Huron | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 2 | 149 |
| Interior | May 5 | May 20 | Oct 7 | 155 |
| Ipswich | May 8 | May 22 | Sep 29 | 144 |
| Irene | Apr 27 | May 10 | Oct 11 | 167 |
| Iroquois | May 5 | May 20 | Oct 4 | 152 |
| Isabel | May 11 | May 24 | Sep 30 | 142 |
| Java | May 8 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 146 |
| Jefferson | Apr 29 | May 11 | Oct 7 | 161 |
| Kadoka | May 11 | May 24 | Sep 30 | 142 |
| Kennebec | May 12 | May 26 | Sep 28 | 139 |
| Keystone | May 15 | May 29 | Oct 1 | 139 |
| Kimball | May 3 | May 17 | Oct 5 | 155 |
| Kranzburg | May 3 | May 14 | Oct 4 | 154 |
| La Bolt | May 5 | May 18 | Oct 2 | 150 |
| Lake Andes | Apr 30 | May 12 | Oct 13 | 166 |
| Lake City | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 9 | 160 |
| Lake Norden | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 1 | 148 |
| Lake Preston | May 5 | May 20 | Oct 4 | 152 |
| Lane | May 2 | May 14 | Oct 8 | 159 |
| Langford | May 13 | May 27 | Sep 26 | 136 |
| Lead | May 18 | Jun 1 | Sep 29 | 134 |
| Lebanon | May 7 | May 21 | Oct 2 | 148 |
| Lemmon | May 10 | May 24 | Sep 30 | 143 |
| Lennox | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 2 | 153 |
| Leola | May 9 | May 21 | Sep 28 | 142 |
| Lesterville | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 4 | 156 |
| Letcher | Apr 27 | May 10 | Oct 11 | 167 |
| Long Lake | May 10 | May 22 | Sep 30 | 143 |
| Lowry | May 8 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 146 |
| Madison | May 5 | May 18 | Sep 30 | 148 |
| Marion | Apr 30 | May 11 | Oct 7 | 160 |
| Martin | May 13 | May 27 | Oct 2 | 142 |
| Marvin | May 14 | May 28 | Sep 28 | 137 |
| McIntosh | May 9 | May 24 | Sep 30 | 144 |
| McLaughlin | May 12 | May 25 | Sep 28 | 139 |
| Mellette | May 11 | May 23 | Sep 27 | 139 |
| Menno | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 4 | 156 |
| Midland | May 12 | May 26 | Sep 28 | 139 |
| Milbank | May 5 | May 18 | Oct 2 | 150 |
| Miller | May 3 | May 16 | Oct 3 | 153 |
| Mission | May 9 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 145 |
| Mission Hill | Apr 27 | May 10 | Oct 11 | 167 |
| Mitchell | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 6 | 157 |
| Mobridge | May 5 | May 20 | Oct 4 | 152 |
| Monroe | Apr 30 | May 11 | Oct 7 | 160 |
| Montrose | May 3 | May 15 | Oct 4 | 154 |
| Morristown | May 20 | Jun 3 | Sep 23 | 126 |
| Mound City | May 8 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 146 |
| Mount Vernon | Apr 27 | May 10 | Oct 11 | 167 |
| Murdo | May 3 | May 16 | Oct 9 | 159 |
| Naples | May 5 | May 18 | Oct 5 | 153 |
| New Effington | May 4 | May 17 | Oct 3 | 152 |
| New Underwood | May 8 | May 22 | Oct 3 | 148 |
| New Witten | May 1 | May 15 | Oct 10 | 162 |
| Newell | May 8 | May 22 | Oct 1 | 146 |
| Nisland | May 8 | May 22 | Oct 1 | 146 |
| North Sioux City | Apr 29 | May 11 | Oct 7 | 161 |
| Northville | May 11 | May 23 | Sep 27 | 139 |
| Nunda | May 2 | May 14 | Oct 5 | 156 |
| Oacoma | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 7 | 159 |
| Oelrichs | May 15 | May 28 | Sep 30 | 138 |
| Oldham | May 3 | May 15 | Oct 2 | 152 |
| Olivet | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 4 | 156 |
| Onaka | May 7 | May 20 | Oct 3 | 149 |
| Onida | May 8 | May 22 | Oct 2 | 147 |
| Orient | May 10 | May 25 | Sep 28 | 141 |
| Ortley | May 1 | May 12 | Oct 12 | 164 |
| Parker | Apr 30 | May 11 | Oct 7 | 160 |
| Parkston | May 8 | May 21 | Sep 29 | 144 |
| Peever | May 5 | May 18 | Oct 1 | 149 |
| Philip | May 11 | May 24 | Sep 30 | 142 |
| Pickstown | Apr 30 | May 12 | Oct 13 | 166 |
| Piedmont | May 10 | May 25 | Oct 5 | 148 |
| Pierpont | May 6 | May 21 | Oct 4 | 151 |
| Pierre | May 6 | May 19 | Oct 5 | 152 |
| Plankinton | May 3 | May 17 | Oct 5 | 155 |
| Platte | Apr 30 | May 14 | Oct 8 | 161 |
| Pollock | May 8 | May 21 | Sep 30 | 145 |
| Presho | May 12 | May 28 | Sep 29 | 140 |
| Pringle | May 15 | May 30 | Sep 29 | 137 |
| Pukwana | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 7 | 159 |
| Quinn | May 10 | May 25 | Oct 1 | 144 |
| Ramona | May 6 | May 17 | Oct 3 | 150 |
| Rapid City | May 10 | May 25 | Oct 5 | 148 |
| Ravinia | Apr 30 | May 12 | Oct 13 | 166 |
| Raymond | May 5 | May 17 | Oct 5 | 153 |
| Redfield | May 8 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 146 |
| Ree Heights | May 3 | May 16 | Oct 3 | 153 |
| Reliance | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 7 | 159 |
| Revillo | May 5 | May 18 | Oct 2 | 150 |
| Rockham | May 10 | May 25 | Sep 28 | 141 |
| Roscoe | May 7 | May 20 | Oct 3 | 149 |
| Rosholt | May 3 | May 15 | Oct 3 | 153 |
| Roslyn | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 9 | 160 |
| Salem | May 7 | May 19 | Sep 29 | 145 |
| Scotland | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 7 | 159 |
| Selby | May 8 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 146 |
| Seneca | May 14 | May 25 | Sep 29 | 138 |
| Sherman | May 1 | May 15 | Oct 4 | 156 |
| Sinai | May 3 | May 15 | Oct 2 | 152 |
| Sioux Falls | Apr 26 | May 9 | Oct 13 | 170 |
| Sisseton | May 4 | May 17 | Oct 3 | 152 |
| South Shore | May 14 | May 28 | Sep 28 | 137 |
| Spearfish | May 12 | May 25 | Oct 2 | 143 |
| Spencer | May 8 | May 21 | Sep 29 | 144 |
| Springfield | Apr 25 | May 9 | Oct 13 | 171 |
| St. Francis | May 9 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 145 |
| St. Lawrence | May 3 | May 16 | Oct 3 | 153 |
| Stickney | May 3 | May 17 | Oct 5 | 155 |
| Stockholm | May 5 | May 18 | Oct 2 | 150 |
| Strandburg | May 7 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 147 |
| Stratford | May 6 | May 20 | Sep 29 | 146 |
| Sturgis | May 8 | May 21 | Oct 3 | 148 |
| Summerset | May 10 | May 25 | Oct 5 | 148 |
| Summit | May 14 | May 28 | Sep 28 | 137 |
| Tabor | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 7 | 159 |
| Tea | Apr 26 | May 9 | Oct 13 | 170 |
| Timber Lake | May 10 | May 23 | Sep 30 | 143 |
| Tolstoy | May 7 | May 21 | Oct 2 | 148 |
| Toronto | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 3 | 150 |
| Trent | May 5 | May 17 | Oct 1 | 149 |
| Tripp | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 7 | 159 |
| Tulare | May 8 | May 21 | Oct 1 | 146 |
| Turton | May 7 | May 22 | Oct 3 | 149 |
| Twin Brooks | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 4 | 155 |
| Tyndall | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 7 | 159 |
| Utica | Apr 27 | May 10 | Oct 11 | 167 |
| Valley Springs | May 1 | May 14 | Oct 6 | 158 |
| Veblen | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 9 | 160 |
| Verdon | May 6 | May 20 | Sep 29 | 146 |
| Vermillion | May 3 | May 16 | Oct 3 | 153 |
| Viborg | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 1 | 152 |
| Vienna | May 5 | May 18 | Oct 5 | 153 |
| Vilas | May 5 | May 18 | Oct 2 | 150 |
| Virgil | May 2 | May 14 | Oct 8 | 159 |
| Volga | May 6 | May 19 | Oct 1 | 148 |
| Volin | Apr 27 | May 10 | Oct 11 | 167 |
| Wagner | Apr 29 | May 12 | Oct 9 | 163 |
| Wakonda | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 1 | 152 |
| Wall | May 10 | May 25 | Oct 1 | 144 |
| Wallace | May 4 | May 16 | Oct 6 | 155 |
| Ward | May 6 | May 19 | Oct 1 | 148 |
| Warner | May 8 | May 21 | Sep 29 | 144 |
| Wasta | May 10 | May 25 | Oct 1 | 144 |
| Watertown | May 7 | May 20 | Sep 30 | 146 |
| Waubay | May 1 | May 12 | Oct 12 | 164 |
| Webster | May 4 | May 16 | Oct 6 | 155 |
| Wentworth | May 2 | May 14 | Oct 5 | 156 |
| Wessington | May 3 | May 16 | Oct 3 | 153 |
| Wessington Springs | May 2 | May 14 | Oct 8 | 159 |
| Westport | May 7 | May 22 | Sep 29 | 145 |
| Wetonka | May 9 | May 21 | Sep 28 | 142 |
| White | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 3 | 150 |
| White Lake | May 3 | May 17 | Oct 5 | 155 |
| White River | May 6 | May 22 | Oct 4 | 151 |
| White Rock | May 3 | May 15 | Oct 3 | 153 |
| Whitewood | May 8 | May 21 | Oct 3 | 148 |
| Willow Lake | May 5 | May 18 | Oct 5 | 153 |
| Wilmot | May 5 | May 18 | Oct 1 | 149 |
| Winner | May 1 | May 16 | Oct 9 | 161 |
| Wolsey | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 2 | 149 |
| Wood | May 10 | May 22 | Oct 1 | 144 |
| Woonsocket | May 9 | May 24 | Sep 28 | 142 |
| Worthing | May 2 | May 15 | Oct 2 | 153 |
| Yale | May 6 | May 20 | Oct 2 | 149 |
| Yankton | Apr 27 | May 10 | Oct 11 | 167 |
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. City centers from the US Census Bureau. Click a city for its nearest station and, where it has frost dates, hard-freeze dates and a vegetable planting calendar. See how we calculate.
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Sioux Falls, SD?
The average last spring frost in Sioux Falls is April 26, and only 1 year in 10 has a frost after May 9. The average first fall frost is October 13. These come from NOAA's 1991–2020 records at the Sioux Falls WFO AP station.
When should I plant tomatoes in South Dakota?
UNH Extension times tomato transplants for 1 to 2 weeks after the average last frost. In Sioux Falls that's about May 3 to May 10. Look up your ZIP code for your own dates and a full vegetable planting calendar.
More for South Dakota: South Dakota climate zones (insulation) · South Dakota planting zones · Frost line depth by state