Frost Dates for 89048 — Pahrump, Nevada

Half of springs at Pahrump 4 NW, NV see their last 32°F night by March 29; only one in ten is past it by March 6, and one in ten still has one after April 21. Planting tender crops after April 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 12 20%, and after April 21 10%. The 23 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 58% 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 3 in half of years, as early as October 18 one year in ten, and holds off past November 17 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 13; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 2, 19 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 218 days in a typical year, longer than at 68% of the 38 Nevada stations; it reaches 244 days one year in ten and falls short of 191 one year in ten. On average 79 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 16 days longer, to about April 14, and return around October 24. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 76%.

July is the warmest month at Pahrump 4 NW, NV, averaging 101°F by day and 68°F at night; December is the coldest at 57°F and 27°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 90% of years and April still brings one in 43% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,276 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 74% of the 38 Nevada stations. 36% of them (1,924) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,072. Precipitation totals 5.1 inches a year, most in February (0.9") and least in June (0.1"); May to September bring 25% of it.

The nearest other station, Mercury 3 SSW, NV, 28 miles north of Pahrump and 711 feet higher, has a last frost 19 days earlier (March 10), a first frost 16 days later (November 19), a season 35 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Pahrump usually arrives around November 12, and the last of the season around May 3. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Mt Charleston Fire Stn, NV, 20.5 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 35 days before the last snow.

ZIP 89048 is 4 miles from Pahrump 4 NW, NV, which stands at 2,573 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 89048 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.