Frost Dates for 89508 — Reno, Nevada

Half of springs at Reno Tahoe International Airport, NV see their last 32°F night by April 20; only one in ten is past it by April 6, and one in ten still has one after May 5. Planting tender crops after April 26 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 30 20%, and after May 5 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is the narrowest of the 38 Nevada stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 23 in half of years, as early as October 11 one year in ten, and holds off past November 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 2; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 19, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 184 days in a typical year, longer than at 61% of the 38 Nevada stations; it reaches 206 days one year in ten and falls short of 163 one year in ten. On average 122 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 13 days longer, to about May 3, and return around October 12. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 94% of winters, usually between December 10 and January 24.

July is the warmest month at Reno Tahoe International Airport, NV, averaging 94°F by day and 60°F at night; December is the coldest at 47°F and 26°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 17% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,420 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 58% of the 38 Nevada stations. 31% of them (1,069) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 842. Precipitation totals 7.3 inches a year, most in January (1.3") and least in July (0.2"); May to September bring 22% of it.

The nearest other station, Reno WFO, NV, 3 miles north of Reno and 577 feet higher, has a last frost 8 days later (April 28), a first frost 4 days later (October 27), a season 2 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Reno usually arrives around November 27, and the last of the season around April 3. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Reno Tahoe International Airport, NV, 3.2 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 17 days after the last snow.

ZIP 89508 is 3 miles from Reno Tahoe International Airport, NV, which stands at 4,410 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 89502 (Reno). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 89508 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.