Frost dates for Mile 42 Steese, AK
At Mile 42 Steese, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 28 and the median first fall frost is Aug 26, for a typical growing season of 87 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 19. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 1a to 3b.
- May 28Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 19Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Aug 26First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 87 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | May 15 | May 28 | Jun 19 |
| 28°F | May 3 | May 14 | May 30 |
| 24°F | Apr 22 | May 5 | May 18 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | Aug 9 | Aug 26 | Sep 8 |
| 28°F | Aug 20 | Sep 6 | Sep 21 |
| 24°F | Sep 4 | Sep 20 | Oct 3 |
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 | 35 days | 58 days | 81 days |
| 32°F | 64 days | 87 days | 108 days |
| 28°F | 93 days | 114 days | 135 days |
| 24°F | 117 days | 135 days | 155 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99707 | 3b | -35 to -30°F | 43 km |
| 99790 | 3b | -35 to -30°F | 51 km |
| 99724 | 1a | -60 to -55°F | 123 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 USC00505880, at 65.2222, -147.1667, elevation 293 m (960 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 14 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 246.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Fort Knox Mine (26 km)
- Gilmore Creek (32 km)
- Fairbanks 11 NE (32 km)
- Fox 2 SE (36 km)
- Two Rivers (41 km)
- College 5 NW (47 km)
- Aurora (48 km)
- Goldstream Creek (49 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.