Frost Dates for 81524 — Loma, Colorado

Half of springs at Fruita, CO see their last 32°F night by April 27; only one in ten is past it by April 17, and one in ten still has one after May 7. Planting tender crops after May 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 4 20%, and after May 7 10%. The 10 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is the narrowest of the 110 Colorado stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so the end of frost is fairly predictable.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 11 in half of years, as early as September 28 one year in ten, and holds off past October 25 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 22; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 29, 8 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 164 days in a typical year, longer than at 88% of the 110 Colorado stations; it reaches 182 days one year in ten and falls short of 147 one year in ten. On average 167 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 11 days longer, to about May 8, and return around October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 22 and February 28.

July is the warmest month at Fruita, CO, averaging 95°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 39°F and 15°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 32% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,351 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 88% of the 110 Colorado stations. 33% of them (1,122) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 843. Precipitation totals 10.1 inches a year, most in October (1.2") and least in June (0.6"); May to September bring 41% of it.

The nearest other station, Colorado Nm, CO, 10 miles south of Loma and 1,283 feet higher, has a last frost 1 day earlier (April 26), a first frost 5 days later (October 16), a season 8 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Loma usually arrives around December 9, and the last of the season around February 28. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Fruita 4.5 NNE, CO, 4.6 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 58 days after the last snow.

ZIP 81524 is 7 miles from Fruita, CO, which stands at 4,498 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 81521 (Fruita). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 81524 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.