Frost dates for Payson, AZ
At Payson, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 29 and the median first fall frost is Oct 24, for a typical growing season of 176 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 20. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8b.
- Apr 29Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 20Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 24First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 176 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 | Apr 29 | May 15 | Jun 4 |
| 32°F | Apr 13 | Apr 29 | May 20 |
| 28°F | Mar 20 | Apr 10 | May 1 |
| 24°F | Feb 23 | Mar 16 | Apr 12 |
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 | Oct 1 | Oct 14 | Oct 27 |
| 32°F | Oct 11 | Oct 24 | Nov 8 |
| 28°F | Oct 21 | Nov 6 | Nov 21 |
| 24°F | Nov 1 | Nov 18 | Dec 2 |
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 | 127 days | 150 days | 172 days |
| 32°F | 153 days | 176 days | 198 days |
| 28°F | 180 days | 208 days | 233 days |
| 24°F | 213 days | 243 days | 274 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85541 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 1 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 USW00093139, at 34.2325, -111.3447, elevation 1478 m (4,850 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 27 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 125.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Natural Brg (14 km)
- Childs (35 km)
- Pleasant Valley (38 km)
- Punkin Center (42 km)
- Blue Ridge Ranger Station (44 km)
- Happy Jack Ranger Station (57 km)
- Montezuma Castle National Monument (62 km)
- Roosevelt 1 S (68 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.