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USDA Hardiness Zone 7a

Frost Dates for 83651 — Nampa, Idaho

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Nampa Sugar Factory, ID (2,470 ft), 2 miles north.

Updated

In Nampa, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 29 in half of years and has passed by May 18 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 13, as early as September 29 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 164 days (NOAA, Nampa Sugar Factory, ID).

Last spring frost
April 29

50% probability

First fall frost
October 13

50% probability

Growing season
164 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7a

0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) coldest night

First snow
December 5

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
February 20

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
90%

18 of 20 observed

Snow per year
9.7"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Nampa

Half of springs at Nampa Sugar Factory, ID 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 18. Planting tender crops after May 5 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 9 20%, and after May 18 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 60% of the 67 Idaho stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 13 in half of years, as early as September 29 one year in ten, and holds off past October 28 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 25; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 1, 17 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 164 days in a typical year, longer than at 73% of the 67 Idaho stations; it reaches 186 days one year in ten and falls short of 142 one year in ten. On average 132 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 17 days longer, to about May 16, and return around September 30. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 99% of winters, usually between December 1 and February 11.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMay 1May 6May 10May 13May 16May 20May 24May 31Jun 6
32°FApr 15Apr 20Apr 23Apr 27Apr 29May 1May 5May 9May 18
28°FMar 25Mar 31Apr 4Apr 8Apr 11Apr 16Apr 20Apr 25May 1
24°FMar 2Mar 8Mar 12Mar 17Mar 22Mar 28Apr 1Apr 6Apr 12
20°FFeb 8Feb 16Feb 21Feb 26Feb 28Mar 4Mar 9Mar 13Mar 26
16°F99% of yrsJan 7Jan 22Jan 31Feb 6Feb 11Feb 16Feb 21Feb 25Mar 3
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 15Sep 20Sep 24Sep 27Sep 30Oct 2Oct 5Oct 8Oct 14
32°FSep 29Oct 3Oct 6Oct 9Oct 13Oct 16Oct 19Oct 22Oct 28
28°FOct 9Oct 15Oct 18Oct 22Oct 25Oct 28Nov 1Nov 4Nov 10
24°FOct 22Oct 27Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 10Nov 14Nov 19Nov 24
20°FOct 31Nov 6Nov 11Nov 15Nov 19Nov 23Nov 26Nov 30Dec 5
16°F99% of yrsNov 9Nov 16Nov 23Nov 27Dec 1Dec 4Dec 8Dec 14Dec 24

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Nampa Sugar Factory, ID, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 83651 →Compare Nampa with another place →

Weather by month in Nampa

July is the warmest month at Nampa Sugar Factory, ID, averaging 93°F by day and 57°F at night; January is the coldest at 40°F and 23°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 42% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,956 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 85% of the 67 Idaho stations. 31% of them (904) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 784. Precipitation totals 11.2 inches a year, most in January (1.4") and least in August (0.2"); May to September bring 27% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Nampa Sugar Factory, ID
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan40231.4100%280
Feb47261.0100%231
Mar57321.3100%1721
Apr65361.197%885
May74441.442%1289
Jun83510.72%0507
Jul93570.30%0784
Aug92560.20%0730
Sep81470.413%<1415
Oct67370.893%7115
Nov51281.2100%218
Dec40231.4100%270

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Nampa Sugar Factory, ID (2,470 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Deer Flat Dam, ID, 8 miles west of Nampa, has a last frost 6 days earlier (April 23), a first frost 5 days later (October 18), a season 14 days longer.

Frost dates for 83607 (Caldwell) →

When it snows in Nampa, Idaho

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Nampa usually arrives around December 5, and the last of the season around February 20. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Nampa Sugar Factory, ID, 1.5 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 90% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 68 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 83651

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Nampa, Idaho
WhenWhat to do
February 18 – March 4Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 4 – March 18Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 1 – April 15Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 29 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 21Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 29Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 13 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 83651 is 2 miles from Nampa Sugar Factory, ID, which stands at 2,470 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 6 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 83646 (Meridian). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 83651 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across Idaho →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 7a places in Idaho