Frost dates for Council, ID
At Council, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 10 and the median first fall frost is Oct 2, for a typical growing season of 145 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 1. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6a.
- May 10Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 1Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 2First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 145 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 11 | Jun 1 | Jun 21 |
| 32°F | Apr 25 | May 10 | Jun 1 |
| 28°F | Apr 4 | Apr 22 | May 8 |
| 24°F | Mar 12 | Mar 31 | Apr 26 |
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 4 | Sep 19 | Oct 3 |
| 32°F | Sep 16 | Oct 2 | Oct 18 |
| 28°F | Oct 1 | Oct 16 | Oct 30 |
| 24°F | Oct 12 | Oct 27 | Nov 13 |
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 | 82 days | 109 days | 133 days |
| 32°F | 116 days | 145 days | 166 days |
| 28°F | 153 days | 176 days | 200 days |
| 24°F | 179 days | 208 days | 235 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 83643 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 13 km |
| 83612 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 14 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 USC00102187, at 44.7442, -116.4325, elevation 897 m (2,943 ft).
- Data quality: Estimated from nearby stations (2+ years), 12 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 159.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Cambridge (27 km)
- New Meadows Ranger Station (28 km)
- McCall (30 km)
- McCall Airport (31 km)
- Brownlee Dam (38 km)
- Cascade 1 NW (39 km)
- Ola (64 km)
- Riggins (68 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.