Frost dates for Prescott, AZ
At Prescott, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 30 and the median first fall frost is Oct 20, for a typical growing season of 172 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 15. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 7b to 8b.
- Apr 30Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 15Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 20First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 172 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 28 | May 12 | May 30 |
| 32°F | Apr 14 | Apr 30 | May 15 |
| 28°F | Mar 28 | Apr 13 | May 2 |
| 24°F | Mar 5 | Mar 26 | Apr 16 |
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 29 | Oct 10 | Oct 23 |
| 32°F | Oct 7 | Oct 20 | Nov 4 |
| 28°F | Oct 16 | Oct 31 | Nov 15 |
| 24°F | Oct 24 | Nov 12 | Nov 26 |
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 | 129 days | 150 days | 168 days |
| 32°F | 153 days | 172 days | 193 days |
| 28°F | 175 days | 200 days | 222 days |
| 24°F | 206 days | 230 days | 255 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 86313 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 3 km |
| 86301 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 3 km |
| 86303 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 8 km |
| 86314 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 10 km |
| 86329 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 17 km |
| 86338 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 30 km |
| 86332 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 34 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 USC00026796, at 34.5706, -112.4322, elevation 1586 m (5,205 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 128.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Prescott Love Field (9 km)
- Chino Valley (21 km)
- Jerome (36 km)
- Cordes (38 km)
- Tuzigoot (43 km)
- Walnut Creek (53 km)
- Montezuma Castle National Monument (55 km)
- Castle Hot Springs (66 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.