Before continuing on, here are a few definitions...

South Central Nebraska and North Central Kansas
30 Year Average First Frost/Freeze Dates (1994-2023)
(click image to enlarge)

Average First 36° Date (First Frost)	Average First 32° Date (First Freeze)	Average First 28° Date (First Hard Freeze)

Median Dates of First Fall Freeze & Hard Freeze (1991-2020)
Images from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center

Median Date of First 32° Freeze	Median Date of First 28° Hard Freeze

• The first column lists 10 locations in south central NE and 3 in north central KS with long histories of being NWS Cooperative Observer sites (except for Grand Island and Hastings airports, which are automated systems). This is just a small sampling of dozens of official weather stations within the NWS Hastings coverage area, and these sites are generally organized down the column from north-to south.
   
• The second column shows the average date of the EARLIEST FALL OBSERVANCE of 36°, 32° and 28° temperatures during the most recent 30 year period from 1995-2024.
   
• The third and fourth columns reveal the earliest first freeze date and latest first freeze date (32° or colder) over the last 30 years. It is readily apparent that the phrase "average freeze date" is quite relative, as most sites feature a 5-7 week difference between the earliest and latest dates. For the majority of locations, the earliest freeze during the past 30 years occurred between Sept. 13-22 in years such as 2014/1995. On the opposite end of the spectrum, for many locations the latest first freeze of the past 30 years occurred between Oct. 25-Nov. 4 in years such as 1997/1998/2015.
   
• The final column is a recap of LAST FALL (2024), showing the first dates that 36°, 32° and 28° thresholds were observed. A blue-shaded date indicates that the first fall frost/freeze/hard freeze of 2023 occurred at least 10 days EARLIER than the 30-year average, while red-shaded dates indicate a first fall frost/freeze/hard freeze that was at least 10 days LATER than the 30-year average.  

Fall Frost/Freeze Data For Central/South Central Nebraska + North Central Kansas
(based on 30-year averages from 1995-2024)

  * NOTE: 10 or fewer missing days of annual data allowed for averages 

The Midwestern Regional Climate Center (MRCC) produces maps that update DAILY, depicting the first recorded dates that locations have dropped to at least 32°/28° so far this fall. Check out these statewide maps of Kansas and Nebraska by clicking on the images below.

KS Observed 32° or Below So Far This Fall	NE Observed 32° or Below So Far This Fall
KS Observed 28° or Below So Far This Fall	NE Observed 28° or Below So Far This Fall

A Look Back At The Unusually Early Frost/Freeze Of September 1974:

One of the earliest frost and/or freezes on record in parts of central/south central NE and north central KS struck during the first week of September 1974, as many locations dropped below the freezing mark on Sept. 3rd! Just as a few examples: NWS cooperative observers in Beaver City/Ravenna reported morning lows as cold as 29º. Even in our KS coverage area, Webster Dam fell to 32º. 

A surface weather map (below left) from Sept. 3, 1974 depicted just why such frigid temperatures were observed. An unseasonably cold airmass roared into the region behind a strong cold front. Eventually, surface high pressure set up over the region, creating an ideal situation for a record early freeze. In fact, note the handwritten comment "Record early damaging frosts, corn belt area" at the top of the weather map. The original NWS cooperative observation forms from Gothenburg and Greeley NE are also depicted below. The Gothenburg observer noted "Clear. Froze. Ice. Crop Damage" on the right side of the form on the 3rd. It's also interesting to note that both Gothenburg and Greeley recorded freezing temperatures again just 10 days later on Sept. 13!

Sep. 3, 1974 Weather Map	Gothenburg, NE Observation Form	Greeley, NE Observation Form