Frost Dates for 80228 — Lakewood, Colorado

Half of springs at Lakewood, CO see their last 32°F night by May 3; only one in ten is past it by April 19, and one in ten still has one after May 18. Planting tender crops after May 8 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 12 20%, and after May 18 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 56% of the 110 Colorado stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 7 in half of years, as early as September 24 one year in ten, and holds off past October 21 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 16; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 7, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 155 days in a typical year, longer than at 70% of the 110 Colorado stations; it reaches 175 days one year in ten and falls short of 133 one year in ten. On average 154 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 11 days longer, to about May 14, and return around September 30. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 15 and March 16.

July is the warmest month at Lakewood, CO, averaging 86°F by day and 60°F at night; December is the coldest at 45°F and 20°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 60% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,713 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 59% of the 110 Colorado stations. 31% of them (839) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 705. Precipitation totals 17.5 inches a year, most in May (2.6") and least in December (0.5"); May to September bring 57% of it.

The nearest other station, Wheat Ridge 2, CO, 6 miles north of Lakewood and 242 feet lower, has a last frost 2 days later (May 5), a first frost 2 days earlier (October 5), a season 4 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Lakewood usually arrives around November 1, and the last of the season around May 2. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Denver 6.1 WSW, CO, 2.6 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 1 day after the last snow.

ZIP 80228 is 4 miles from Lakewood, CO, which stands at 5,640 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 80401 (Golden). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 80228 in zone 6a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.