Last frost dates in Iowa

Typical last frost
April 21

That is the date for the typical Iowa resident, weighted by city population. Across the state the average last frost runs from April 15 to April 29, so look up your own town below.

Earliest city
Apr 15
Latest city
Apr 29
Typical first frost
Oct 18
Cities
27
This week in Iowa

No frost in the forecast for the next 7 nights

National Weather Service forecast, updated Oct 22, 11:10 UTC

May 1Apr 15NSDes Moines: Apr 18Des MoinesCedar Rapids: Apr 27Cedar RapidsDavenport: Apr 19Sioux City: Apr 29Sioux CityAnkeny: Apr 23AnkenyIowa City: Apr 21West Des Moines: Apr 18Ames: Apr 26Waterloo: Apr 27Council Bluffs: Apr 18Dubuque: Apr 19Urbandale: Apr 19Marion: Apr 28Cedar Falls: Apr 27Bettendorf: Apr 16Waukee: Apr 18Marshalltown: Apr 28Mason City: Apr 29Ottumwa: Apr 23Johnston: Apr 19Fort Dodge: Apr 28Clinton: Apr 22Coralville: Apr 21Burlington: Apr 15Muscatine: Apr 24Altoona: Apr 23North Liberty: Apr 21
Each dot is a city: further right means a later last frost, higher up means further north. Bigger dots are bigger cities.

Frost dates by city

CityLast frostSafe afterFirst frostSeason
Des MoinesApr 18May 2Oct 20184 days
Cedar RapidsApr 27May 11Oct 11165 days
DavenportApr 19May 4Oct 22184 days
Sioux CityApr 29May 11Oct 7161 days
AnkenyApr 23May 6Oct 15173 days
Iowa CityApr 21May 6Oct 18180 days
West Des MoinesApr 18May 2Oct 20184 days
AmesApr 26May 9Oct 8164 days
WaterlooApr 27May 10Oct 10165 days
Council BluffsApr 18Apr 30Oct 21185 days
DubuqueApr 19May 4Oct 21184 days
UrbandaleApr 19May 3Oct 18179 days
MarionApr 28May 13Oct 12166 days
Cedar FallsApr 27May 10Oct 10165 days
BettendorfApr 16Apr 30Oct 25190 days
WaukeeApr 18May 2Oct 20184 days
MarshalltownApr 28May 11Oct 7162 days
Mason CityApr 29May 9Oct 7161 days
OttumwaApr 23May 7Oct 14172 days
JohnstonApr 19May 3Oct 18179 days
Fort DodgeApr 28May 9Oct 8162 days
ClintonApr 22May 8Oct 16175 days
CoralvilleApr 21May 6Oct 18180 days
BurlingtonApr 15May 1Oct 20187 days
MuscatineApr 24May 9Oct 14172 days
AltoonaApr 23May 6Oct 15173 days
North LibertyApr 21May 6Oct 18180 days

When to plant in Iowa

Questions

When is the last frost in Iowa?

It depends on where you are. Across the 27 cities we track, the average last frost runs from April 15 to April 29. In Des Moines, the largest, it is April 18.

When is the first frost in Iowa?

For a typical resident, around October 18. Higher and more northern towns get it earlier.