Frost Dates for 83355 — Wendell, Idaho

Half of springs at Jerome, ID see their last 32°F night by May 2; only one in ten is past it by April 15, and one in ten still has one after May 30. Planting tender crops after May 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 16 20%, and after May 30 10%. The 28 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is the widest of the 67 Idaho stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so a fixed calendar date is a gamble here.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 14 in half of years, as early as September 30 one year in ten, and holds off past October 29 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around October 27; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 10, 20 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 166 days in a typical year, longer than at 78% of the 67 Idaho stations; it reaches 188 days one year in ten and falls short of 136 one year in ten. On average 153 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 13 days longer, to about May 15, and return around October 3. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 26 and February 19.

July is the warmest month at Jerome, ID, averaging 90°F by day and 59°F at night; January is the coldest at 36°F and 22°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 50% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,783 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 78% of the 67 Idaho stations. 28% of them (785) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 767. Precipitation totals 10.4 inches a year, most in December (1.5") and least in July (0.1"); May to September bring 26% of it.

The nearest other station, Buhl #2, ID, 11 miles south of Wendell, has a last frost 7 days earlier (April 25), a first frost 1 day later (October 15), a season 6 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Wendell usually arrives around December 13, and the last of the season around February 11. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Hagerman 2 SW, ID, 11.4 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 84% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 80 days after the last snow.

ZIP 83355 is 10 miles from Jerome, ID, which stands at 3,740 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 83355 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.