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

Planting zone for 69337 — Chadron, NE

ZIP code 69337 (Chadron, Dawes 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 28.

Where ZIP 69337 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 28
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 Chadron, 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 Chadron, NE

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 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 28median — 10% chance by Sep 13
Growing season133 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 5 and returns around October 7.

From the NOAA station Chadron 3sw, NE — 6 miles away, elevation 3,383 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 69337

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 3 – Aug 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 14 – Oct 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Sep 28) 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 69337 came on Mar 4 — 27 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 Nebraska

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

Trees 31

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Fbitternut hickory75 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −47 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fblack oak80 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −30 °F

Shrubs 55

alderleaf 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 °Fantelope bitterbrush6 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °Fbig sagebrush4 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 184

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °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 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 129

alkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbasin wildrye5 ft · blooms early spring · high shade tolerance · to −43 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °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 Chadron, NE.

Soil in Chadron, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69337 is Mitchell — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.8slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Mitchell silt loam, 9 to 20 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 69337; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Chadron, NE

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days44days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights173nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,744base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 21 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 01 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation18.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall50 inper year; 59 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 13 °F 38°13° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 15 °F 41°15° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 23 °F 52°23° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 31 °F 59°31° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 42 °F 69°42° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 52 °F 81°52° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 59 °F 89°59° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 56 °F 88°56° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 46 °F 79°46° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 33 °F 64°33° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 22 °F 50°22° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 13 °F 39°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.55 in precipitation, 5.8 in snowfall 0.6❄6 JanFebruary: 0.64 in precipitation, 8.6 in snowfall 0.6❄9 FebMarch: 1.34 in precipitation, 7.9 in snowfall 1.3❄8 MarApril: 2.16 in precipitation, 5.6 in snowfall 2.2❄6 AprMay: 2.99 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 3.0❄1 MayJune: 3.22 in precipitation 3.2 JunJuly: 1.93 in precipitation 1.9 JulAugust: 1.70 in precipitation 1.7 AugSeptember: 1.50 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 1.39 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 1.4❄5 OctNovember: 0.69 in precipitation, 6.3 in snowfall 0.7❄6 NovDecember: 0.64 in precipitation, 10 in snowfall 0.6❄10 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Chadron 3sw, NE (6 mi away); precipitation: Chadron 3sw, NE (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

693675a
Whitney, NE · 17 mi
577635a
Oelrichs, SD · 22 mi
577705a
Pine Ridge, SD · 22 mi
693475a
Hay Springs, NE · 25 mi
693655a
Whiteclay, NE · 27 mi
693605a
Rushville, NE · 27 mi
577825a
Smithwick, SD · 28 mi
577645a
Oglala, SD · 28 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69337

What planting zone is ZIP code 69337?

ZIP code 69337 (Chadron, NE) 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 Chadron, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69337 is May 15; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chadron 3sw station.

When is the first frost in Chadron, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69337 is September 28, giving a median frost-free growing season of 133 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69337?

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 69337 get?

About 18.8 inches of precipitation a year and 50 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chadron 3sw station).

How hot do summers get in Chadron, NE?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 44 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 69337 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Mitchell at the center of ZIP 69337: silt loam, well drained, pH about 7.8 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Chadron, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69337 came on Mar 4 in 2026, 27 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Chadron, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69337 is 15 h 21 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).