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USDA Hardiness Zone 5a

Frost Dates for 80615 — Eaton, Colorado

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Greeley Unc, CO (4,715 ft), 9 miles south.

Updated

In Eaton, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 2 in half of years and has passed by May 14 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 8, as early as September 26 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 159 days (NOAA, Greeley Unc, CO).

Last spring frost
May 2

50% probability

First fall frost
October 8

50% probability

Growing season
159 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
5a

-20 to -15°F (-28.9 to -26.1°C) coldest night

First snow
November 3

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 18

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

17 of 17 observed

Snow per year
32.7"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Eaton

Half of springs at Greeley Unc, CO see their last 32°F night by May 2; only one in ten is past it by April 17, and one in ten still has one after May 14. Planting tender crops after May 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 10 20%, and after May 14 10%. The 12 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 81% of the 110 Colorado stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 8 in half of years, as early as September 26 one year in ten, and holds off past October 21 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 18; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 5, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 159 days in a typical year, longer than at 78% of the 110 Colorado stations; it reaches 178 days one year in ten and falls short of 139 one year in ten. On average 153 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 10 days longer, to about May 12, and return around September 30. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 14 and March 11.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMay 1May 4May 8May 10May 12May 15May 17May 20May 26
32°FApr 17Apr 22Apr 27Apr 30May 2May 5May 7May 10May 14
28°FApr 5Apr 10Apr 14Apr 17Apr 20Apr 24Apr 27May 1May 5
24°FMar 19Mar 26Mar 31Apr 3Apr 6Apr 10Apr 14Apr 19Apr 24
20°FMar 7Mar 13Mar 17Mar 22Mar 26Mar 30Apr 2Apr 7Apr 14
16°FFeb 23Feb 28Mar 4Mar 7Mar 11Mar 16Mar 21Mar 28Apr 3
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 18Sep 23Sep 25Sep 28Sep 30Oct 2Oct 4Oct 7Oct 11
32°FSep 26Oct 1Oct 3Oct 5Oct 8Oct 11Oct 14Oct 17Oct 21
28°FOct 4Oct 9Oct 12Oct 15Oct 18Oct 21Oct 24Oct 27Nov 1
24°FOct 13Oct 18Oct 22Oct 25Oct 28Nov 1Nov 3Nov 7Nov 10
20°FOct 20Oct 26Oct 31Nov 3Nov 6Nov 9Nov 12Nov 15Nov 19
16°FOct 27Nov 3Nov 7Nov 11Nov 14Nov 17Nov 20Nov 24Nov 28

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Greeley Unc, CO, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 80615 →Compare Eaton with another place →

Weather by month in Eaton

July is the warmest month at Greeley Unc, CO, averaging 92°F by day and 59°F at night; December is the coldest at 43°F and 18°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 57% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,210 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 84% of the 110 Colorado stations. 33% of them (1,065) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 790. Precipitation totals 14.9 inches a year, most in May (2.7") and least in January (0.5"); May to September bring 59% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Greeley Unc, CO
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan44180.5100%301
Feb48200.5100%264
Mar59280.9100%2237
Apr66351.8100%10115
May75452.757%2317
Jun86541.80%0591
Jul92591.60%0790
Aug89571.60%0721
Sep82491.120%<1464
Oct68371.199%9151
Nov54260.7100%2419
Dec43180.6100%301

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Greeley Unc, CO (4,715 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Fort Collins 4 E, CO, 17 miles west of Eaton and 205 feet higher, has a last frost 1 day later (May 3), a first frost 2 days earlier (October 6), a season 5 days shorter.

Frost dates for 80525 (Fort Collins) →

When it snows in Eaton, Colorado

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Eaton usually arrives around November 3, and the last of the season around April 18. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Greeley 3.9 ENE, CO, 5.7 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.

Planting calendar for 80615

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Eaton, Colorado
WhenWhat to do
February 21 – March 7Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 7 – March 21Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 4 – April 18Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
May 2 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 16Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 24Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 8 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 80615 is 9 miles from Greeley Unc, CO, which stands at 4,715 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 6 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 80634 (Greeley). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 80615 in zone 5a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -20 to -15°F (-28.9 to -26.1°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across Colorado →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 5a places in Colorado