Frost dates for Cordova M K Smith Airport, AK
At Cordova M K Smith Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 23 and the median first fall frost is Sep 19, for a typical growing season of 118 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 5. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 4b to 8a.
- May 23Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 5Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Sep 19First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 118 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 30 | Jun 12 | Jul 6 |
| 32°F | May 7 | May 23 | Jun 5 |
| 28°F | Apr 20 | May 4 | May 18 |
| 24°F | Apr 4 | Apr 17 | Apr 30 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Aug 14 | Sep 1 | Sep 16 |
| 32°F | Sep 5 | Sep 19 | Oct 2 |
| 28°F | Sep 18 | Oct 2 | Oct 20 |
| 24°F | Oct 1 | Oct 16 | Nov 4 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 53 days | 79 days | 100 days |
| 32°F | 98 days | 118 days | 139 days |
| 28°F | 131 days | 151 days | 171 days |
| 24°F | 161 days | 181 days | 202 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
Closest ZIP codes (each is closer to another station)
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99686 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 74 km |
| 99677 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 80 km |
| 99573 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 121 km |
| 99574 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 136 km |
| 99693 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 146 km |
| 99566 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 177 km |
| 99674 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 186 km |
| 99587 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 194 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USW00026410, at 60.4889, -145.4511, elevation 9 m (31 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 28 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 165.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Cordova N (18 km)
- Cordova Wastewater Plant (19 km)
- Valdez WSO (86 km)
- Valdez (87 km)
- Cannery Creek (127 km)
- Tonsina (130 km)
- Silver Lake (133 km)
- Main Bay (145 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.