Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for 50248 — Story City, IA

ZIP code 50248 (Story City, Story County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost October 8.

Where ZIP 50248 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostApr 26
First frostOct 8
2012 zone5a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Story City, IA…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Story City, IA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 8median — 10% chance by Sep 23
Growing season164 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 14 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station Ames Municipal Airport, IA — 14 miles away, elevation 932 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in 50248

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 10 – May 24
BeansSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 13 – Aug 27
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 24 – Oct 29
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 26) and first fall frost (Oct 8) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 50248 came on Mar 25 — 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 5a in Iowa

461 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Iowa, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 46

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbalsam fir60 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Shrubs 77

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 185

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 133

arctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fblue grama1 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Vines 7

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Story City, IA.

Soil in Story City, IA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 50248 is Harps — clay loam, poorly drained.

TextureClay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.5slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter7%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Harps-Okoboji complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 50248; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Story City, IA

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days17days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights147nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,021base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 16 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 05 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation37.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 29 °F, low 11 °F 29°11° JanFebruary: average high 33 °F, low 15 °F 33°15° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 27 °F 47°27° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 38 °F 61°38° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 51 °F 76°51° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 39 °F 63°39° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 27 °F 47°27° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 17 °F 34°17° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 0.97 in precipitation 1.0 JanFebruary: 1.23 in precipitation 1.2 FebMarch: 2.15 in precipitation 2.1 MarApril: 3.87 in precipitation 3.9 AprMay: 5.23 in precipitation 5.2 MayJune: 5.41 in precipitation 5.4 JunJuly: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 4.59 in precipitation 4.6 AugSeptember: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 2.75 in precipitation 2.8 OctNovember: 1.87 in precipitation 1.9 NovDecember: 1.69 in precipitation 1.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ames Municipal Airport, IA (14 mi away); precipitation: Gilbert 0.2 W, IA (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

3 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

502315a
Randall, IA · 3 mi
501055b
Gilbert, IA · 5 mi
502365a
Roland, IA · 6 mi
501305a
Jewell, IA · 8 mi
500755a
Ellsworth, IA · 10 mi
500145b
Ames, IA · 11 mi
502465a
Stanhope, IA · 11 mi
500105b
Ames, IA · 11 mi

Iowa planting zones →

Questions about 50248

What planting zone is ZIP code 50248?

ZIP code 50248 (Story City, IA) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Story City, IA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 50248 is April 26; after May 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ames Municipal Airport station.

When is the first frost in Story City, IA?

The median first fall frost near 50248 is October 8, giving a median frost-free growing season of 164 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 50248?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 1 – Mar 15 and set transplants outside around May 3 – May 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 50248 get?

About 37.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gilbert 0.2 W station).

How hot do summers get in Story City, IA?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 17 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 50248 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Harps at the center of ZIP 50248: clay loam, poorly drained, pH about 7.5 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Story City, IA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 50248 came on Mar 25 in 2026, 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Story City, IA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 50248 is 15 h 16 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).