Frost dates for Clifton, AZ
At Clifton, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Feb 26 and the median first fall frost is Nov 23, for a typical growing season of 268 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Mar 15. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 8a to 8b.
- Feb 26Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Mar 15Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 23First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 268 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 | Feb 24 | Mar 14 | Apr 7 |
| 32°F | Feb 6 | Feb 26 | Mar 15 |
| 28°F | Jan 9 | Feb 5 | Mar 3 |
| 24°F | Dec 17 | Jan 15 | Feb 9 |
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 | Oct 30 | Nov 14 | Nov 25 |
| 32°F | Nov 10 | Nov 23 | Dec 6 |
| 28°F | Nov 20 | Dec 5 | Dec 24 |
| 24°F | Nov 28 | Dec 20 | Jan 16 |
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 | 214 days | 240 days | 265 days |
| 32°F | 244 days | 268 days | 296 days |
| 28°F | 271 days | 302 days | 333 days |
| 24°F | 309 days | 339 days | 365 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 86% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85540 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 9 km |
| 85533 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 27 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 USC00021849, at 33.0561, -109.3072, elevation 1073 m (3,520 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 15 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 30.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Safford Muni Airport (38 km)
- Duncan (38 km)
- Safford Ag Center (44 km)
- Black River Pumps (63 km)
- Fort Thomas 2 SW (63 km)
- Bowie (83 km)
- San Simon (85 km)
- Alpine (89 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.