Frost dates for Estes Park 3 SSE, CO
At Estes Park 3 SSE, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 30 and the median first fall frost is Sep 17, for a typical growing season of 109 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 14. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 5a to 5b.
- May 30Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 14Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Sep 17First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 109 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 29 | Jun 12 | Jun 28 |
| 32°F | May 15 | May 30 | Jun 14 |
| 28°F | May 3 | May 16 | May 31 |
| 24°F | Apr 21 | May 4 | 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 23 | Sep 6 | Sep 20 |
| 32°F | Sep 3 | Sep 17 | Oct 1 |
| 28°F | Sep 12 | Sep 28 | Oct 12 |
| 24°F | Sep 23 | Oct 8 | Oct 24 |
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 | 62 days | 84 days | 105 days |
| 32°F | 87 days | 109 days | 130 days |
| 28°F | 112 days | 134 days | 154 days |
| 24°F | 134 days | 155 days | 174 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80517 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 10 km |
| 80532 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 16 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 USC00052761, at 40.3489, -105.5200, elevation 2381 m (7,812 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 19 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 184.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Allenspark 3nw (13 km)
- Waterdale (28 km)
- Hourglass Rsvr (28 km)
- Grand Lake 1 NW (28 km)
- Grand Lake 6 SSW (35 km)
- Boulder 14 W (35 km)
- Buckhorn Mountain 1 E (35 km)
- Loveland 2n (38 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.