Frost Dates for 89429 — Silver Springs, Nevada

Half of springs at Lahontan Dam, NV see their last 32°F night by April 18; only one in ten is past it by April 2, and one in ten still has one after May 9. Planting tender crops after April 26 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 30 20%, and after May 9 10%. The 21 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 50% 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 October 25 in half of years, as early as October 11 one year in ten, and holds off past November 7 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 4; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 20, 19 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 188 days in a typical year, longer than at 66% of the 38 Nevada stations; it reaches 211 days one year in ten and falls short of 162 one year in ten. On average 111 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 15 days longer, to about May 3, and return around October 14. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 99% of winters, usually between December 6 and February 8.

July is the warmest month at Lahontan Dam, NV, averaging 96°F by day and 66°F at night; December is the coldest at 46°F and 24°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 18% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,017 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 66% of the 38 Nevada stations. 32% of them (1,275) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 961. Precipitation totals 4.9 inches a year, most in January (0.7") and least in July (0.1"); May to September bring 29% of it.

The nearest other station, Virginia City, NV, 22 miles west of Silver Springs and 2,173 feet higher, has a last frost 24 days later (May 12), a first frost 8 days earlier (October 17), a season 33 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Silver Springs usually arrives around November 21, and the last of the season around April 20. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Virginia City, NV, 21.8 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 2 days before the last snow.

ZIP 89429 is 12 miles from Lahontan Dam, NV, which stands at 4,167 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 89429 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.