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

Planting zone for 57248 — Lake Norden, SD

ZIP code 57248 (Lake Norden, Hamlin County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 57248 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.

Zone4b−25 to −20 °F
Coldest night−31.7 to −28.9 °C
Last frostMay 6
First frostOct 1
2012 zone4b

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 4b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Lake Norden, SD…

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 Lake Norden, SD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 19
Growing season145 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 29 and returns around October 11.

From the NOAA station Castlewood #2, SD — 12 miles away, elevation 1,690 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 57248

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 1) 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 57248 came on Apr 8 — 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 19).

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 4b in South Dakota

430 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in South Dakota, and rated by the USDA to survive −25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 23

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fblack maple100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °Fblack walnut100 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Shrubs 65

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked hazelnut15 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 191

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 138

Alaska oniongrass3 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 5

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °Fwestern white clematis1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °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 Lake Norden, SD.

Soil in Lake Norden, SD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 57248 is Southam — silty clay loam, very poorly drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.3neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter7%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Southam silty clay loam, 0 to 1 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 57248; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lake Norden, SD

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low3 °Faverage low, January
Hot days13days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights182nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,344base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 34 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 49 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation23.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall34 inper year; 91 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 22 °F, low 3 °F 22°3° JanFebruary: average high 26 °F, low 6 °F 26°6° FebMarch: average high 39 °F, low 18 °F 39°18° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 30 °F 54°30° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 54 °F 78°54° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 59 °F 83°59° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 56 °F 81°56° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 47 °F 72°47° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 34 °F 58°34° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 21 °F 41°21° NovDecember: average high 27 °F, low 9 °F 27°9° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.35 in precipitation, 5.4 in snowfall 0.3❄5 JanFebruary: 0.60 in precipitation, 6.9 in snowfall 0.6❄7 FebMarch: 1.03 in precipitation, 5.2 in snowfall 1.0❄5 MarApril: 2.08 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 2.1❄4 AprMay: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 MayJune: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 JunJuly: 3.03 in precipitation 3.0 JulAugust: 3.20 in precipitation 3.2 AugSeptember: 3.00 in precipitation 3.0 SepOctober: 1.97 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 2.0❄1 OctNovember: 0.85 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 0.8❄2 NovDecember: 0.51 in precipitation, 9.9 in snowfall 0.5❄10 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Castlewood #2, SD (12 mi away); precipitation: Hayti, SD (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

572144b
Badger, SD · 7 mi
572414b
Hayti, SD · 8 mi
572334b
Erwin, SD · 12 mi
572214b
Bryant, SD · 13 mi
572234a
Castlewood, SD · 13 mi
572124b
Arlington, SD · 14 mi
572344b
Estelline, SD · 15 mi
572424b
Hazel, SD · 16 mi

South Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 57248

What planting zone is ZIP code 57248?

ZIP code 57248 (Lake Norden, SD) is in USDA hardiness zone 4b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −25 to −20 °F (−31.7 to −28.9 °C).

When is the last frost in Lake Norden, SD?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 57248 is May 6; after May 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Castlewood #2 station.

When is the first frost in Lake Norden, SD?

The median first fall frost near 57248 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 145 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 57248?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 11 – Mar 25 and set transplants outside around May 13 – May 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 57248 get?

About 23.7 inches of precipitation a year and 34 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hayti station).

How hot do summers get in Lake Norden, SD?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 13 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 57248 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Southam at the center of ZIP 57248: silty clay loam, very poorly drained, pH about 7.3 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Lake Norden, SD in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 57248 came on Apr 8 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 19), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lake Norden, SD?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 57248 is 15 h 34 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).