Frost Dates for 81003 — Pueblo, Colorado

Half of springs at Pueblo Rsvr, CO see their last 32°F night by April 26; only one in ten is past it by April 13, and one in ten still has one after May 8. Planting tender crops after May 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 4 20%, and after May 8 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 13 in half of years, as early as September 30 one year in ten, and holds off past October 25 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 22; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 30, 8 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 166 days in a typical year, longer than at 92% of the 110 Colorado stations; it reaches 184 days one year in ten and falls short of 149 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 10 days longer, to about May 6, and return around October 5. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 19 and March 10.

July is the warmest month at Pueblo Rsvr, CO, averaging 92°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 47°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 33% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,507 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 92% of the 110 Colorado stations. 34% of them (1,177) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 841. Precipitation totals 12.6 inches a year, most in August (2.1") and least in January (0.3"); May to September bring 61% of it.

The nearest other station, WFO Pueblo, CO, 6 miles east of Pueblo and 208 feet lower, has a last frost 4 days later (April 30), a first frost 4 days earlier (October 9), a season 4 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Pueblo usually arrives around December 10, and the last of the season around March 8. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Pueblo Rsvr, CO, 5.2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 96% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 49 days after the last snow.

ZIP 81003 is 5 miles from Pueblo Rsvr, CO, which stands at 4,861 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 81007 (Pueblo West). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 81003 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.