Last frost dates in South Dakota

Typical last frost
April 26

That is the date for the typical South Dakota resident, weighted by city population. Across the state the average last frost runs from April 26 to May 8, so look up your own town below.

Earliest city
Apr 26
Latest city
May 8
Typical first frost
Oct 13
Cities
5
This week in South Dakota

Frost in the forecast for 2 of 5 cities

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

May 1May 15NSSioux Falls: Apr 26Sioux FallsRapid City: May 3Rapid CityAberdeen: May 8AberdeenBrookings: May 6BrookingsWatertown: May 7Watertown
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
Sioux FallsApr 26May 9Oct 13169 days
Rapid CityMay 3May 17Oct 8157 days
AberdeenMay 8May 21Sep 29144 days
BrookingsMay 6May 19Oct 1145 days
WatertownMay 7May 20Sep 30145 days

When to plant in South Dakota

Questions

When is the last frost in South Dakota?

It depends on where you are. Across the 5 cities we track, the average last frost runs from April 26 to May 8. In Sioux Falls, the largest, it is April 26.

When is the first frost in South Dakota?

For a typical resident, around October 13. Higher and more northern towns get it earlier.