Frost Dates for 80535 — Laporte, Colorado

Half of springs at Buckhorn Mountain 1 E, CO see their last 32°F night by May 21; only one in ten is past it by May 9, and one in ten still has one after June 4. Planting tender crops after May 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 31 20%, and after June 4 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 45% of the 110 Colorado stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by September 29 in half of years, as early as September 12 one year in ten, and holds off past October 12 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 7 days later, around October 6; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 26, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 128 days in a typical year, shorter than at 60% of the 110 Colorado stations; it reaches 148 days one year in ten and falls short of 107 one year in ten. On average 164 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 June 1, and return around September 21. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 5 and April 9.

July is the warmest month at Buckhorn Mountain 1 E, CO, averaging 79°F by day and 56°F at night; February is the coldest at 40°F and 20°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 19% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,910 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 65% of the 110 Colorado stations. 25% of them (469) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 551. Precipitation totals 21.4 inches a year, most in May (3.4") and least in January (0.7"); May to September bring 57% of it.

The nearest other station, Fort Collins, CO, 8 miles southeast of Laporte and 2,396 feet lower, has a last frost 19 days earlier (May 2), a first frost 8 days later (October 7), a season 29 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Laporte usually arrives around October 29, and the last of the season around April 24. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Bellvue 1 NW, 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 27 days after the last snow.

ZIP 80535 is 8 miles from Buckhorn Mountain 1 E, CO, which stands at 7,400 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 80535 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.