Weather in Hartford, Iowa
Roses Bloom Along the Shelter Rows. Day 59 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
- TodayMay 16Thunderstorm46%84°59°
- SundayMay 17Thunderstorm63%79°62°
- MondayMay 18Thunderstorm81%83°62°
- TuesdayMay 19Heavy Rain81%63°47°
- WednesdayMay 20Overcast—60°41°
- ThursdayMay 21Overcast—65°45°
- FridayMay 22Overcast—67°54°
- PM 2.5
- 5.3 μg/m³
- PM 10
- 6.2 μg/m³
- NO₂
- 4.7 μg/m³
- Ozone
- 90.0 μg/m³
- UV Index
- 0.1 Low
When the dew is on the grass, rain will never come to pass.
- Moonrise
- 10:57 AM
- Moonset
- 2:00 AM
- In sign
- ♉︎ Taurus
Roses Bloom Along the Shelter Rows
Hartford at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 3°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: April 25 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: 28 of 72, May 16–20
- Planting window: Direct sow okra, melons, and southern peas. Thin carrot rows.
Right now in the garden
Warm-season window is open
As of May 17, the last spring frost has passed for most years. Transplant tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, basil, and cucurbits (cucumbers, squash, melons) now. Direct-sow beans and corn into warm soil.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | — | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
Hartford's warmest month is July (~76°F mean) and its coldest is January (~22°F). Rainfall peaks in June (5.3 inches) and bottoms out in January (1.1 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22° | 1.1″ | 3 |
| February | 27° | 1.3″ | 4 |
| March | 39° | 2.2″ | 5 |
| April | 51° | 4.0″ | 8 |
| May | 62° | 5.2″ | 9 |
| June | 72° | 5.3″ | 7 |
| July | 76° | 3.8″ | 6 |
| August | 74° | 4.2″ | 6 |
| September | 66° | 3.2″ | 5 |
| October | 53° | 2.8″ | 5 |
| November | 39° | 1.9″ | 4 |
| December | 28° | 1.6″ | 4 |
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Hartford?
- Hartford's last spring frost typically falls around mid-April, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-November.
- What is the rainy season in Hartford?
- June is the wettest month with about 5.3 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 37 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Hartford?
- July is typically warmest, averaging about 76°F.
- What is the coldest month in Hartford?
- January is typically coldest, averaging about 22°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Hartford?
- Cool-season crops (peas, lettuce) can be sown around the last spring frost (mid-April); warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Hartford get?
- Hartford averages about 66 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Hartford?
- Hartford's USDA hardiness zone is determined by its lowest average winter temperature; check the USDA's online lookup with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
Hartford, Iowa sits in a warm-summer humid continental climate zone. January means hover near 22°F while July averages 76°F — a 54°F seasonal swing.
Across the year, Hartford receives about 37 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 66 rainy days.
The rhythm of the year is set by latitude (41.5°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation — all of which shape what grows here, when frost is likely, and what the weather story looks like day to day.