Frost dates for Safford Ag Center, AZ
At Safford Ag Center, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 25 and the median first fall frost is Nov 9, for a typical growing season of 228 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 14. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8b.
- Mar 25Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 14Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 9First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 228 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 | Mar 25 | Apr 12 | May 2 |
| 32°F | Mar 5 | Mar 25 | Apr 14 |
| 28°F | Feb 8 | Mar 3 | Mar 23 |
| 24°F | Jan 15 | Feb 11 | Mar 6 |
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 14 | Oct 30 | Nov 13 |
| 32°F | Oct 23 | Nov 9 | Nov 25 |
| 28°F | Nov 3 | Nov 22 | Dec 6 |
| 24°F | Nov 16 | Dec 3 | Dec 23 |
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 | 174 days | 197 days | 222 days |
| 32°F | 201 days | 228 days | 253 days |
| 28°F | 234 days | 260 days | 288 days |
| 24°F | 263 days | 293 days | 327 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85552 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 10 km |
| 85531 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 11 km |
| 85551 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 14 km |
| 85546 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 15 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 USC00027390, at 32.8150, -109.6808, elevation 900 m (2,954 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 26 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 70.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Safford Muni Airport (6 km)
- Fort Thomas 2 SW (36 km)
- Clifton (44 km)
- Duncan (53 km)
- Bowie (57 km)
- Willcox (64 km)
- San Simon (72 km)
- Black River Pumps (74 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.