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

Planting zone for 69153 — Ogallala, NE

ZIP code 69153 (Ogallala, Keith County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost October 12.

Where ZIP 69153 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 1
First frostOct 12
2012 zone5b

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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Ogallala, NE…

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 Ogallala, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 12median — 10% chance by Sep 29
Growing season163 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 19 and returns around October 21.

From the NOAA station Ogallala, NE — 4 miles away, elevation 3,232 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 69153

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 15 – May 29
BeansSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 17 – Aug 31
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 28 – Nov 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (Oct 12) 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 69153 came on Mar 3 — 26 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 29).

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).

Soil in Ogallala, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69153 is Satanta — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Satanta loam, 1 to 3 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 69153; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ogallala, NE

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, January
Hot days46days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights166nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,168base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 08 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 13 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation19.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall25 inper year; 30 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 40 °F, low 15 °F 40°15° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 18 °F 43°18° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 26 °F 53°26° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 35 °F 62°35° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 57 °F 83°57° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 63 °F 90°63° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 61 °F 87°61° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 50 °F 79°50° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 36 °F 65°36° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 25 °F 51°25° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 16 °F 41°16° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.51 in precipitation, 4.6 in snowfall 0.5❄5 JanFebruary: 0.58 in precipitation, 5.6 in snowfall 0.6❄6 FebMarch: 1.12 in precipitation, 3.7 in snowfall 1.1❄4 MarApril: 2.23 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 2.2❄3 AprMay: 3.22 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.2 MayJune: 3.11 in precipitation 3.1 JunJuly: 2.90 in precipitation 2.9 JulAugust: 2.09 in precipitation 2.1 AugSeptember: 1.53 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 1.26 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 1.3❄1 OctNovember: 0.59 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 0.6❄3 NovDecember: 0.40 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 0.4❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ogallala, NE (4 mi away); precipitation: Ogallala, NE (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

691275b
Brule, NE · 13 mi
691555b
Paxton, NE · 17 mi
691405b
Grant, NE · 17 mi
691445b
Keystone, NE · 19 mi
691505b
Madrid, NE · 19 mi
691465b
Lemoyne, NE · 21 mi
691225b
Big Springs, NE · 22 mi
691345b
Elsie, NE · 24 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69153

What planting zone is ZIP code 69153?

ZIP code 69153 (Ogallala, NE) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Ogallala, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69153 is May 1; after May 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ogallala station.

When is the first frost in Ogallala, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69153 is October 12, giving a median frost-free growing season of 163 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69153?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 6 – Mar 20 and set transplants outside around May 8 – May 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 69153 get?

About 19.5 inches of precipitation a year and 25 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ogallala station).

How hot do summers get in Ogallala, NE?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 46 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 69153 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Satanta at the center of ZIP 69153: loam, well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Ogallala, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69153 came on Mar 3 in 2026, 26 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 29), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ogallala, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69153 is 15 h 08 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).