Frost Dates for 89166 — Las Vegas, Nevada

Half of springs at Desert Nwr, NV see their last 32°F night by March 22; only one in ten is past it by February 28, and one in ten still has one after April 13. Planting tender crops after April 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 7 20%, and after April 13 10%. The 22 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 53% 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 7 in half of years, as early as October 21 one year in ten, and holds off past November 22 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 19; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 25, 19 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 229 days in a typical year, longer than at 71% of the 38 Nevada stations; it reaches 253 days one year in ten and falls short of 204 one year in ten. On average 60 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 19 days longer, to about April 10, and return around October 28. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 30%.

July is the warmest month at Desert Nwr, NV, averaging 101°F by day and 68°F at night; December is the coldest at 56°F and 30°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 85% of years and April still brings one in 31% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,272 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 71% of the 38 Nevada stations. 37% of them (1,943) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,066. Precipitation totals 4.8 inches a year, most in February (0.8") and least in June (0.1"); May to September bring 29% of it.

The nearest other station, Las Vegas Air Terminal, NV, 11 miles southeast of Las Vegas and 711 feet lower, has a last frost 57 days earlier (January 24), a first frost 33 days later (December 10), a season 94 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 8 of 29 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Desert Nwr, NV, 8.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 89166 is 8 miles from Desert Nwr, NV, which stands at 2,914 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 89166 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.