Frost Dates for 97827 — Elgin, Oregon

Half of springs at Elgin, OR see their last 32°F night by May 24; only one in ten is past it by May 1, and one in ten still has one after June 21. Planting tender crops after June 3 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after June 11 20%, and after June 21 10%. The 28 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 80% of the 103 Oregon 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 September 18 in half of years, as early as September 1 one year in ten, and holds off past October 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around October 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 24, 28 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 114 days in a typical year, shorter than at 88% of the 103 Oregon stations; it reaches 141 days one year in ten and falls short of 82 one year in ten. On average 164 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 21 and February 27.

July is the warmest month at Elgin, OR, averaging 87°F by day and 47°F at night; December is the coldest at 39°F and 23°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 86% of years and June still brings one in 32% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,871 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 67% of the 103 Oregon stations. 27% of them (510) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 521. Precipitation totals 26.1 inches a year, most in December (3.8") and least in July (0.7"); May to September bring 25% of it.

The nearest other station, La Grande, OR, 19 miles southwest of Elgin, has a last frost 18 days earlier (May 6), a first frost 13 days later (October 1), a season 32 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Elgin usually arrives around November 21, and the last of the season around March 15. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Elgin, OR, 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 70 days after the last snow.

ZIP 97827 is 2 miles from Elgin, OR, which stands at 2,697 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 97827 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.