Frost Dates for 86315 — Prescott Valley, Arizona

Half of springs at Prescott Love Field, AZ see their last 32°F night by April 20; only one in ten is past it by April 4, and one in ten still has one after May 7. Planting tender crops after April 28 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 7 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 80% of the 98 Arizona stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 27 in half of years, as early as October 13 one year in ten, and holds off past November 10 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 8; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 19, 18 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 188 days in a typical year, shorter than at 72% of the 98 Arizona stations; it reaches 209 days one year in ten and falls short of 165 one year in ten. On average 113 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 14 days longer, to about May 4, and return around October 16. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 95% of winters, usually between December 13 and January 24.

July is the warmest month at Prescott Love Field, AZ, averaging 90°F by day and 63°F at night; December is the coldest at 52°F and 26°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 22% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,694 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 76% of the 102 Arizona stations. 33% of them (1,234) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 821. Precipitation totals 13.1 inches a year, most in August (2.5") and least in June (0.4"); May to September bring 50% of it.

The nearest other station, Chino Valley, AZ, 10 miles northwest of Prescott Valley and 292 feet lower, has a last frost 7 days later (April 27), a first frost 3 days earlier (October 24), a season 10 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Prescott Valley usually arrives around December 20, and the last of the season around March 9. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Prescott, AZ, 11.2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 97% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 42 days after the last snow.

ZIP 86315 is 7 miles from Prescott Love Field, AZ, which stands at 5,042 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 86314 (Prescott Valley). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 86315 in zone 8a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.