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

Planting zone for 69347 — Hay Springs, NE

ZIP code 69347 (Hay Springs, Sheridan 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 24.

Where ZIP 69347 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 24
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 Hay Springs, 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 Hay Springs, 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 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 24median — 10% chance by Sep 11
Growing season131 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 5 and returns around October 4.

From the NOAA station Hay Springs 12 S, NE — 6 miles away, elevation 3,806 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 69347

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 · Jul 30 – Aug 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 10 – Oct 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Sep 24) 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 69347 came on Mar 9 — 25 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3).

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 Hay Springs, NE.

Soil in Hay Springs, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69347 is Keith — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Keith 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 69347; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Hay Springs, NE

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days36days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights189nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,521base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 19 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 03 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation17.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 39 °F, low 11 °F 39°11° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 13 °F 41°13° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 22 °F 53°22° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 29 °F 60°29° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 41 °F 70°41° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 51 °F 82°51° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 56 °F 88°56° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 54 °F 87°54° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 43 °F 79°43° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 31 °F 65°31° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 19 °F 49°19° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 11 °F 39°11° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.46 in precipitation 0.5 JanFebruary: 0.48 in precipitation 0.5 FebMarch: 0.85 in precipitation 0.8 MarApril: 1.91 in precipitation 1.9 AprMay: 2.94 in precipitation 2.9 MayJune: 2.99 in precipitation 3.0 JunJuly: 2.13 in precipitation 2.1 JulAugust: 1.86 in precipitation 1.9 AugSeptember: 1.43 in precipitation 1.4 SepOctober: 1.26 in precipitation 1.3 OctNovember: 0.58 in precipitation 0.6 NovDecember: 0.60 in precipitation 0.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Hay Springs 12 S, NE (6 mi away); precipitation: Hay Springs, NE (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

693605a
Rushville, NE · 14 mi
693375a
Chadron, NE · 25 mi
693655a
Whiteclay, NE · 27 mi
693485a
Hemingford, NE · 32 mi
577705a
Pine Ridge, SD · 34 mi
693015a
Alliance, NE · 34 mi
693515a
Lakeside, NE · 36 mi
577945a
Wounded Knee, SD · 39 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69347

What planting zone is ZIP code 69347?

ZIP code 69347 (Hay Springs, 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 Hay Springs, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69347 is May 15; after May 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hay Springs 12 S station.

When is the first frost in Hay Springs, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69347 is September 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 131 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69347?

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 69347 get?

About 17.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hay Springs station).

How hot do summers get in Hay Springs, NE?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 36 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 69347 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Keith at the center of ZIP 69347: loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Hay Springs, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69347 came on Mar 9 in 2026, 25 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Hay Springs, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69347 is 15 h 19 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 69347 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 69347 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.