Frost Dates for 89444 — Wellington, Nevada

Half of springs at Topaz Lake, NV see their last 32°F night by May 12; only one in ten is past it by April 24, and one in ten still has one after June 7. Planting tender crops after May 23 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 31 20%, and after June 7 10%. The 26 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 87% 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 6 in half of years, as early as September 20 one year in ten, and holds off past October 24 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 18; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 18, 20 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 145 days in a typical year, shorter than at 71% of the 38 Nevada stations; it reaches 171 days one year in ten and falls short of 115 one year in ten. On average 154 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 May 31, and return around September 26. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 25 and March 4.

July is the warmest month at Topaz Lake, NV, averaging 92°F by day and 55°F at night; December is the coldest at 46°F and 22°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From July to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 70% of years and June still brings one in 19% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,776 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 66% of the 38 Nevada stations. 28% of them (773) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 725. Precipitation totals 6.0 inches a year, most in March (1.1") and least in June (0.1"); May to September bring 25% of it.

The nearest other station, Yerington, NV, 21 miles northeast of Wellington and 912 feet lower, has a last frost 13 days earlier (April 29), a first frost 9 days later (October 15), a season 22 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 4 of 27 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Smith 6 N, NV, 9.9 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 89444 is 9 miles from Topaz Lake, NV, which stands at 5,292 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 89444 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.