Frost dates for Reno WFO, NV
At Reno WFO, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 28 and the median first fall frost is Oct 27, for a typical growing season of 182 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 19. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 7a to 7b.
- Apr 28Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 19Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 27First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 182 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 | Apr 25 | May 14 | Jun 5 |
| 32°F | Apr 9 | Apr 28 | May 19 |
| 28°F | Mar 18 | Apr 10 | May 2 |
| 24°F | Feb 19 | Mar 19 | Apr 14 |
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 28 | Oct 15 | Nov 1 |
| 32°F | Oct 10 | Oct 27 | Nov 10 |
| 28°F | Oct 23 | Nov 8 | Nov 23 |
| 24°F | Nov 1 | Nov 19 | Dec 7 |
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 | 125 days | 152 days | 178 days |
| 32°F | 154 days | 182 days | 208 days |
| 28°F | 181 days | 210 days | 241 days |
| 24°F | 212 days | 245 days | 278 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89512 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 2 km |
| 89557 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 3 km |
| 89433 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 4 km |
| 89503 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 5 km |
| 89501 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 5 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 USC00266791, at 39.5683, -119.7956, elevation 1520 m (4,987 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 23 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 102.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Sparks (6 km)
- Reno Tahoe Intl Airport (10 km)
- Stead (10 km)
- Spanish Springs (11 km)
- Virginia City (31 km)
- Incline Village (38 km)
- Wadsworth 4 N (45 km)
- Sutcliffe (46 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.