Frost Dates for 80720 — Akron, Colorado

Half of springs at Akron 4 E, CO see their last 32°F night by May 8; only one in ten is past it by April 27, and one in ten still has one after May 22. Planting tender crops after May 14 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 16 20%, and after May 22 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 October 6 in half of years, as early as September 25 one year in ten, and holds off past October 17 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 15; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 11, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 149 days in a typical year, longer than at 59% of the 110 Colorado stations; it reaches 166 days one year in ten and falls short of 132 one year in ten. On average 166 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 19, and return around September 27. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 9 and March 24.

July is the warmest month at Akron 4 E, CO, averaging 89°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 41°F and 16°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 81% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,959 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 75% of the 110 Colorado stations. 31% of them (911) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 759. Precipitation totals 16.3 inches a year, most in May (2.8") and least in January (0.3"); May to September bring 69% of it.

The nearest other station, Woodrow 6NNE, CO, 21 miles west of Akron and 168 feet lower, has a last frost 7 days later (May 15), a first frost 5 days earlier (October 1), a season 9 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Akron usually arrives around November 1, and the last of the season around April 17. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Akron 4 E, CO, 3.1 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 21 days after the last snow.

ZIP 80720 is 3 miles from Akron 4 E, CO, which stands at 4,542 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 80720 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.