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

Planting zone for 57766 — Oral, SD

ZIP code 57766 (Oral, Fall River County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost September 27.

Where ZIP 57766 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 frostMay 15
First frostSep 27
2012 zone4b

Was 4b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 Oral, 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 Oral, SD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 27median — 10% chance by Sep 11
Growing season133 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 6 and returns around October 5.

From the NOAA station Oral, SD — 6 miles away, elevation 2,959 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 57766

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 29 – Jun 12
BeansSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 2 – Aug 16
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 13 – Oct 18
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Sep 27) 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 57766 came on Mar 7 — 24 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31).

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 South Dakota

452 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in South Dakota, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. 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 70

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 202

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 144

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 Oral, SD.

Soil in Oral, SD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 57766 is Pierre — clay, well drained.

TextureClayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.1neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Pierre clay, 2 to 6 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 57766; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Oral, SD

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days43days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights186nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,501base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 24 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 58 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation18.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall37 inper year; 48 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 38 °F, low 11 °F 38°11° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 13 °F 41°13° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 21 °F 52°21° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 30 °F 60°30° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 41 °F 69°41° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 50 °F 80°50° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 56 °F 89°56° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 53 °F 88°53° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 43 °F 79°43° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 31 °F 64°31° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 21 °F 50°21° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 13 °F 40°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.38 in precipitation, 5.6 in snowfall 0.4❄6 JanFebruary: 0.56 in precipitation, 7.1 in snowfall 0.6❄7 FebMarch: 0.86 in precipitation, 5.6 in snowfall 0.9❄6 MarApril: 2.03 in precipitation, 5.2 in snowfall 2.0❄5 AprMay: 3.30 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 3.3❄1 MayJune: 3.05 in precipitation 3.0 JunJuly: 2.35 in precipitation 2.4 JulAugust: 2.01 in precipitation 2.0 AugSeptember: 1.45 in precipitation 1.4 SepOctober: 1.28 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 1.3❄2 OctNovember: 0.53 in precipitation, 3.7 in snowfall 0.5❄4 NovDecember: 0.40 in precipitation, 6.6 in snowfall 0.4❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Oral, SD (6 mi away); precipitation: Oral, 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.

577825a
Smithwick, SD · 7 mi
577225a
Buffalo Gap, SD · 11 mi
577635a
Oelrichs, SD · 16 mi
577475a
Hot Springs, SD · 17 mi
577645a
Oglala, SD · 22 mi
577385a
Fairburn, SD · 23 mi
577735b
Pringle, SD · 27 mi
577445a
Hermosa, SD · 31 mi

South Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 57766

What planting zone is ZIP code 57766?

ZIP code 57766 (Oral, SD) 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 Oral, SD?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 57766 is May 15; after May 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Oral station.

When is the first frost in Oral, SD?

The median first fall frost near 57766 is September 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 133 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 57766?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 20 – Apr 3 and set transplants outside around May 22 – Jun 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 57766 get?

About 18.2 inches of precipitation a year and 37 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Oral station).

How hot do summers get in Oral, SD?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 43 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 57766 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Pierre at the center of ZIP 57766: clay, well drained, pH about 7.1 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Oral, SD in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 57766 came on Mar 7 in 2026, 24 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Oral, SD?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 57766 is 15 h 24 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 57766 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 57766 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.