Frost Dates for 81303 — Durango, Colorado

Half of springs at Durango La Plata Co Airport, CO see their last 32°F night by June 1; only one in ten is past it by May 17, and one in ten still has one after June 15. Planting tender crops after June 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after June 11 20%, and after June 15 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 27 in half of years, as early as September 15 one year in ten, and holds off past October 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 6; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is June 4, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 116 days in a typical year, shorter than at 69% of the 110 Colorado stations; it reaches 134 days one year in ten and falls short of 97 one year in ten. On average 202 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 12 days longer, to about June 13, and return around September 19. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 7 and March 31.

July is the warmest month at Durango La Plata Co Airport, CO, averaging 87°F by day and 52°F at night; January is the coldest at 38°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 53% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,011 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 63% of the 110 Colorado stations. 26% of them (527) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 606. Precipitation totals 13.6 inches a year, most in September (2.0") and least in June (0.5"); May to September bring 43% of it.

The nearest other station, Ignacio 6ESE, CO, 12 miles southeast of Durango, has a last frost 9 days earlier (May 23), a first frost 2 days later (September 29), a season 12 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Durango usually arrives around November 5, and the last of the season around April 27. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Lemon Dam, CO, 10.8 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 35 days after the last snow.

ZIP 81303 is 8 miles from Durango La Plata Co Airport, CO, which stands at 6,660 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 81303 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.