Frost Dates for 85712 — Tucson, Arizona

Half of springs at Tucson Camp Ave Exp, AZ see their last 32°F night by February 20; only one in ten is past it by January 30, and one in ten still has one after March 11. Planting tender crops after March 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 5 20%, and after March 11 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 61% of the 98 Arizona stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 27 in half of years, as early as November 10 one year in ten, and holds off past December 12 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around December 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is February 24, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 280 days in a typical year, longer than at 65% of the 98 Arizona stations; it reaches 308 days one year in ten and falls short of 253 one year in ten. On average 26 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 20 days longer, to about March 12, and return around November 16. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 63% of winters and 16°F in 0%.

July is the warmest month at Tucson Camp Ave Exp, AZ, averaging 101°F by day and 75°F at night; December is the coldest at 67°F and 36°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to January (a 90% chance or more). From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 81% of years and March still brings one in 30% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 7,312 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 64% of the 102 Arizona stations. 41% of them (2,963) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,173. Precipitation totals 11.7 inches a year, most in August (2.6") and least in May (0.1"); May to September bring 54% of it.

The nearest other station, Tucson WFO, AZ, 4 miles west of Tucson, has a last frost 31 days earlier (January 20), a first frost 20 days later (December 17), a season 52 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Tucson Camp Ave Exp, AZ, 4 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 85712 is 4 miles from Tucson Camp Ave Exp, AZ, which stands at 2,330 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 85712 in zone 9b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 25 to 30°F (-3.9 to -1.1°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.