Frost Dates for 86432 — Littlefield, Arizona

Half of springs at Beaver Dam, AZ see their last 32°F night by March 7; only one in ten is past it by February 16, and one in ten still has one after April 10. Planting tender crops after March 22 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 2 20%, and after April 10 10%. The 34 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 91% of the 98 Arizona 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 November 19 in half of years, as early as November 1 one year in ten, and holds off past December 5 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around December 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 11, 30 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 251 days in a typical year, longer than at 56% of the 98 Arizona stations; it reaches 278 days one year in ten and falls short of 218 one year in ten. On average 41 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 28 days longer, to about April 4, and return around November 8. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 98% of winters and 16°F in 21%.

July is the warmest month at Beaver Dam, AZ, averaging 109°F by day and 74°F at night; December is the coldest at 60°F and 32°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 55% of years and April still brings one in 23% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 7,022 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 60% of the 102 Arizona stations. 38% of them (2,685) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,283. Precipitation totals 7.1 inches a year, most in February (1.2") and least in June (0.2"); May to September bring 23% of it.

The nearest other station, Bunkerville, NV, 13 miles southwest of Littlefield and 331 feet lower, has a last frost 9 days later (March 16), a first frost 6 days earlier (November 13), a season 13 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 6 of 25 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Lytle Rch, UT, 17.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 86432 is under a mile from Beaver Dam, AZ, which stands at 1,931 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 86432 in zone 8b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.