Frost dates for Lakewood, CO
At Lakewood, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 3 and the median first fall frost is Oct 7, for a typical growing season of 155 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 18. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 5b to 6a.
- May 3Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 18Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 7First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 155 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 3 | May 18 |
| 28°F | Apr 5 | Apr 22 | May 7 |
| 24°F | Mar 23 | Apr 9 | Apr 27 |
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 16 | Sep 30 | Oct 12 |
| 32°F | Sep 24 | Oct 7 | Oct 21 |
| 28°F | Oct 1 | Oct 16 | Oct 30 |
| 24°F | Oct 11 | Oct 26 | Nov 12 |
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 | 117 days | 137 days | 156 days |
| 32°F | 133 days | 155 days | 175 days |
| 28°F | 154 days | 176 days | 198 days |
| 24°F | 173 days | 199 days | 223 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80215 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 1 km |
| 80214 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 4 km |
| 80226 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 5 km |
| 80232 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 7 km |
| 80228 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 7 km |
| 80401 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 10 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 USC00054762, at 39.7489, -105.1206, elevation 1719 m (5,640 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 24 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 154.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Wheat Ridge 2 (3 km)
- Denver Water Dept (10 km)
- Ralston Rsvr (13 km)
- Marston Fltr Plant (15 km)
- Northglenn (19 km)
- Evergreen (21 km)
- Denver-Stapleton (22 km)
- Coal Creek Canyon (28 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.