Frost Dates for 81428 — Paonia, Colorado

Half of springs at Paonia 1SW, CO see their last 32°F night by May 3; only one in ten is past it by April 22, and one in ten still has one after May 18. Planting tender crops after May 9 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 14 20%, and after May 18 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 56% 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 September 27 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 21; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 6, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 159 days in a typical year, longer than at 78% of the 110 Colorado stations; it reaches 179 days one year in ten and falls short of 139 one year in ten. On average 148 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 14 days longer, to about May 17, and return around October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 20 and March 3.

July is the warmest month at Paonia 1SW, CO, averaging 90°F by day and 57°F at night; January is the coldest at 39°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 63% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,863 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 73% of the 110 Colorado stations. 31% of them (886) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 738. Precipitation totals 14.2 inches a year, most in September (1.5") and least in June (0.6"); May to September bring 40% of it.

The nearest other station, Cedaredge 3E, CO, 16 miles west of Paonia and 1,257 feet higher, has the same 50% last-frost date, a first frost 3 days earlier (October 9), a season 3 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Paonia usually arrives around November 4, and the last of the season around April 3. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Paonia 1SW, CO, 2.6 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 30 days after the last snow.

ZIP 81428 is 3 miles from Paonia 1SW, CO, which stands at 5,581 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 81428 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.