Frost dates for Delta 3e, CO
At Delta 3e, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 1 and the median first fall frost is Oct 7, for a typical growing season of 159 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 14. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6b.
- May 1Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 14Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 7First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 159 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 1 | May 14 | May 29 |
| 32°F | Apr 19 | May 1 | May 14 |
| 28°F | Apr 5 | Apr 19 | May 3 |
| 24°F | Mar 19 | Apr 3 | Apr 20 |
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 | Sep 20 | Sep 30 | Oct 9 |
| 32°F | Sep 26 | Oct 7 | Oct 19 |
| 28°F | Oct 3 | Oct 16 | Oct 29 |
| 24°F | Oct 13 | Oct 27 | Nov 9 |
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 | 119 days | 138 days | 155 days |
| 32°F | 142 days | 159 days | 175 days |
| 28°F | 161 days | 180 days | 199 days |
| 24°F | 184 days | 205 days | 227 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81410 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 8 km |
| 81416 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 23 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 USC00052196, at 38.7539, -108.0278, elevation 1532 m (5,027 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 21 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 160.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Cedaredge 3e (20 km)
- Montrose Regional Airport (30 km)
- Montrose #2 (32 km)
- Paonia 1sw (37 km)
- Black Canyon Of The Gunnison (37 km)
- Montrose 11 ENE (37 km)
- Bonham Rsvr (40 km)
- Palisade (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.