Frost dates for Buena Vista 2s, CO
At Buena Vista 2s, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 27 and the median first fall frost is Sep 23, for a typical growing season of 116 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 11. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5b.
- May 27Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 11Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Sep 23First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 116 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 26 | Jun 8 | Jun 21 |
| 32°F | May 13 | May 27 | Jun 11 |
| 28°F | May 1 | May 15 | Jun 1 |
| 24°F | Apr 19 | May 3 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Aug 31 | Sep 13 | Sep 24 |
| 32°F | Sep 10 | Sep 23 | Oct 4 |
| 28°F | Sep 19 | Oct 2 | Oct 15 |
| 24°F | Sep 28 | Oct 12 | Oct 26 |
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 | 77 days | 95 days | 113 days |
| 32°F | 97 days | 116 days | 135 days |
| 28°F | 117 days | 138 days | 158 days |
| 24°F | 140 days | 160 days | 180 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81236 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 20 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 USC00051071, at 38.8247, -106.1275, elevation 2424 m (7,954 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 25 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 208.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Antero Rsvr (28 km)
- Salida (34 km)
- Twin Lakes Rsvr (36 km)
- Taylor Park (42 km)
- Fairplay S Park Rd (46 km)
- Leadville Lake Co Airport (48 km)
- Sugarloaf Rsvr (52 km)
- Sargents (53 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.