Frost Dates for 80107 — Elizabeth, Colorado

Half of springs at Elizabeth 2NW, CO see their last 32°F night by May 16; only one in ten is past it by May 4, and one in ten still has one after June 1. Planting tender crops after May 22 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 26 20%, and after June 1 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 75% of the 110 Colorado stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 2 in half of years, as early as September 18 one year in ten, and holds off past October 16 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around October 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 19, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 137 days in a typical year, shorter than at 55% of the 110 Colorado stations; it reaches 156 days one year in ten and falls short of 115 one year in ten. On average 170 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 12 days longer, to about May 28, and return around September 24. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 5 and April 4.

July is the warmest month at Elizabeth 2NW, CO, averaging 85°F by day and 56°F at night; December is the coldest at 43°F and 17°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to May (a 90% chance or more). From July to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, June still brings one in 10% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,321 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 55% of the 110 Colorado stations. 28% of them (658) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 626. Precipitation totals 19.4 inches a year, most in July (3.0") and least in January (0.7"); May to September bring 57% of it.

The nearest other station, Parker, CO, 12 miles northwest of Elizabeth and 707 feet lower, has a last frost 7 days earlier (May 9), a first frost 1 day later (October 3), a season 8 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Elizabeth usually arrives around October 16, and the last of the season around May 2. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Elizabeth 2NW, CO, 2.5 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 14 days after the last snow.

ZIP 80107 is 3 miles from Elizabeth 2NW, CO, which stands at 6,611 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 80107 in zone 5b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -15 to -10°F (-26.1 to -23.3°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.