Frost Dates for 97437 — Elmira, Oregon

Half of springs at Fern Ridge-Veneta, OR see their last 32°F night by April 18; only one in ten is past it by March 25, and one in ten still has one after May 5. Planting tender crops after April 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 30 20%, and after May 5 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 83% of the 103 Oregon stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 25 in half of years, as early as October 6 one year in ten, and holds off past November 12 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 17 days later, around November 11; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 16, 19 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 189 days in a typical year, shorter than at 58% of the 103 Oregon stations; it reaches 219 days one year in ten and falls short of 163 one year in ten. On average 66 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 17 days longer, to about May 5, and return around October 6. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 30%.

July is the warmest month at Fern Ridge-Veneta, OR, averaging 82°F by day and 52°F at night; December is the coldest at 44°F and 33°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 77% of years and May still brings one in 18% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,181 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 55% of the 103 Oregon stations. 29% of them (643) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 532. Precipitation totals 46.5 inches a year, most in December (8.7") and least in July (0.3"); May to September bring 12% of it.

The nearest other station, Eugene Mahlon Sweet Airport, OR, 9 miles east of Elmira, has a last frost 7 days earlier (April 11), a first frost 2 days earlier (October 23), a season 7 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 4 of 26 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Fern Ridge-Veneta, OR, 3.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 97437 is 4 miles from Fern Ridge-Veneta, OR, which stands at 485 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 97487 (Veneta). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 97437 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.