Frost Dates for 85911 — Cibecue, Arizona

Half of springs at Heber (Black Mesa) Rs, AZ see their last 32°F night by May 23; only one in ten is past it by May 6, and one in ten still has one after June 6. Planting tender crops after May 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after June 2 20%, and after June 6 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 95% of the 98 Arizona stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 5 in half of years, as early as September 24 one year in ten, and holds off past October 19 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 16; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 28, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 135 days in a typical year, shorter than at 95% of the 98 Arizona stations; it reaches 155 days one year in ten and falls short of 114 one year in ten. On average 170 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 June 3, and return around September 27. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 20 and March 10.

July is the warmest month at Heber (Black Mesa) Rs, AZ, averaging 83°F by day and 56°F at night; January is the coldest at 46°F and 20°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to May (a 90% chance or more). From July to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, June still brings one in 25% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,298 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 95% of the 102 Arizona stations. 30% of them (680) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 601. Precipitation totals 18.4 inches a year, most in August (3.0") and least in June (0.5"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Show Low Airport, AZ, 33 miles east of Cibecue and 179 feet lower, has a last frost 18 days earlier (May 5), a first frost 10 days later (October 15), a season 27 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Cibecue usually arrives around December 16, and the last of the season around February 28. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Heber (Black Mesa) Rs, AZ, 20 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 93% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 84 days after the last snow.

ZIP 85911 is 20 miles from Heber (Black Mesa) Rs, AZ, which stands at 6,590 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 85933 (Overgaard). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 85911 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.