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USDA Hardiness Zone 8b

Frost Dates for 89019 — Sandy Valley, Nevada

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Goodsprings, NV (3,716 ft), 9 miles east.

Updated

In Sandy Valley, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 17 in half of years and has passed by April 11 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 20, as early as November 4 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 245 days (NOAA, Goodsprings, NV).

Last spring frost
March 17

50% probability

First fall frost
November 20

50% probability

Growing season
245 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8b

15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
44%

11 of 25 observed

Snow per year
2.6"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Sandy Valley

Half of springs at Goodsprings, NV see their last 32°F night by March 17; only one in ten is past it by February 23, and one in ten still has one after April 11. Planting tender crops after March 31 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 4 20%, and after April 11 10%. The 25 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 76% of the 38 Nevada 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 20 in half of years, as early as November 4 one year in ten, and holds off past December 5 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around December 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 27, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 245 days in a typical year, longer than at 79% of the 38 Nevada stations; it reaches 275 days one year in ten and falls short of 215 one year in ten. On average 56 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 21 days longer, to about April 7, and return around November 9. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 96% of winters and 16°F in 18%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 15Mar 24Mar 31Apr 4Apr 7Apr 11Apr 15Apr 19Apr 25
32°FFeb 23Mar 1Mar 7Mar 12Mar 17Mar 24Mar 31Apr 4Apr 11
28°FJan 30Feb 7Feb 15Feb 21Feb 26Mar 2Mar 7Mar 14Mar 27
24°F96% of yrsDec 28Jan 6Jan 13Jan 24Jan 31Feb 6Feb 14Feb 24Mar 5
20°F53% of yrsDec 15Dec 24Dec 31Jan 3Jan 9Jan 16Jan 31Feb 10Feb 26
16°F18% of yrstoo rare for a date
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 24Oct 30Nov 3Nov 6Nov 9Nov 13Nov 15Nov 19Nov 22
32°FNov 4Nov 10Nov 14Nov 17Nov 20Nov 22Nov 26Nov 30Dec 5
28°FNov 16Nov 21Nov 25Nov 28Dec 1Dec 4Dec 9Dec 13Dec 21
24°F96% of yrsNov 26Dec 1Dec 6Dec 11Dec 15Dec 21Dec 26Jan 2Jan 15
20°F53% of yrsDec 3Dec 11Dec 17Dec 23Dec 28Jan 1Jan 7Jan 20Feb 9
16°F18% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Goodsprings, NV, 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 89019 →Compare Sandy Valley with another place →

Weather by month in Sandy Valley

July is the warmest month at Goodsprings, NV, averaging 102°F by day and 69°F at night; December is the coldest at 54°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 77% of years and April still brings one in 29% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,457 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 79% of the 38 Nevada stations. 37% of them (2,016) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,097. Precipitation totals 6.6 inches a year, most in February (1.2") and least in June (0.0"); May to September bring 27% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Goodsprings, NV
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan55320.9100%1710
Feb59351.297%1130
Mar67390.777%5140
Apr75450.429%2309
May87540.10%0631
Jun98620.00%0897
Jul102690.80%01097
Aug100660.60%01031
Sep91600.30%0772
Oct78500.67%<1430
Nov63380.380%6102
Dec54320.7100%178

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Goodsprings, NV (3,716 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, Red Rock Canyon - Spg Mt Rch S, NV, 20 miles north of Sandy Valley, has a last frost 4 days earlier (March 13), a first frost 5 days earlier (November 15), a season 1 day shorter.

Frost dates for 89135 (Las Vegas) →

When it snows in Sandy Valley, Nevada

Measurable snow is rare here: only 11 of 25 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Red Rock Canyon - Spg Mt Rch S, NV, 19.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 89019

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Sandy Valley, Nevada
WhenWhat to do
January 6 – January 20Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 20 – February 3Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 17 – March 3Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 17 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 28Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by November 6Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 20 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 89019 is 9 miles from Goodsprings, NV, which stands at 3,716 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 89178 (Las Vegas). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 89019 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.

Frost dates across Nevada →

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 8b places in Nevada