Frost Dates for 80828 — Limon, Colorado

Half of springs at Limon WSMO, CO see their last 32°F night by May 21; only one in ten is past it by May 7, 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 26 in half of years, as early as September 14 one year in ten, and holds off past October 6 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 7 days later, around October 3; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 24, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 127 days in a typical year, shorter than at 62% of the 110 Colorado stations; it reaches 144 days one year in ten and falls short of 108 one year in ten. On average 196 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 31, and return around September 17. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between October 28 and April 4.

July is the warmest month at Limon WSMO, CO, averaging 87°F by day and 54°F at night; December is the coldest at 42°F and 10°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 17% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,233 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 56% of the 110 Colorado stations. 29% of them (645) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 632. Precipitation totals 15.0 inches a year, most in August (2.7") and least in January (0.3"); May to September bring 71% of it.

The nearest other station, Rush 1N, CO, 36 miles southwest of Limon and 690 feet higher, has a last frost 12 days earlier (May 9), a first frost 8 days later (October 4), a season 19 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Limon usually arrives around October 29, and the last of the season around May 1. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Genoa, CO, 10.7 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 20 days after the last snow.

ZIP 80828 is 6 miles from Limon WSMO, CO, which stands at 5,364 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 80828 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.