Frost Dates for 81054 — Las Animas, Colorado

Half of springs at Las Animas, CO see their last 32°F night by April 29; only one in ten is past it by April 15, and one in ten still has one after May 11. Planting tender crops after May 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 7 20%, and after May 11 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 12 in half of years, as early as October 2 one year in ten, and holds off past October 23 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 21; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 2, 9 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 182 days one year in ten and falls short of 147 one year in ten. On average 151 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 9 days longer, to about May 8, and return around October 5. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 14 and March 9.

July is the warmest month at Las Animas, CO, averaging 95°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 48°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 September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 43% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,861 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 99% of the 110 Colorado stations. 35% of them (1,370) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 891. Precipitation totals 13.6 inches a year, most in July (2.6") and least in February (0.3"); May to September bring 65% of it.

The nearest other station, La Junta, CO, 20 miles west of Las Animas and 199 feet higher, has a last frost 3 days earlier (April 26), a first frost 3 days later (October 15), a season 5 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Las Animas usually arrives around November 22, and the last of the season around March 17. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Las Animas, CO, 2.4 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 43 days after the last snow.

ZIP 81054 is 2 miles from Las Animas, CO, which stands at 3,890 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 81054 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.