Frost dates for Blue Mesa Lake, CO
At Blue Mesa Lake, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Jun 9 and the median first fall frost is Sep 16, for a typical growing season of 96 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 24. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 5b.
- Jun 9Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 24Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Sep 16First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 96 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | May 26 | Jun 9 | Jun 24 |
| 28°F | May 11 | May 25 | Jun 7 |
| 24°F | Apr 28 | May 10 | May 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | Sep 3 | Sep 16 | Sep 27 |
| 28°F | Sep 15 | Sep 27 | Oct 7 |
| 24°F | Sep 25 | Oct 5 | Oct 20 |
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 | 46 days | 69 days | 86 days |
| 32°F | 77 days | 96 days | 113 days |
| 28°F | 103 days | 122 days | 141 days |
| 24°F | 127 days | 148 days | 166 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81243 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 22 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 USC00050797, at 38.4667, -107.1678, elevation 2307 m (7,568 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 23 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 220.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Gunnison 3sw (19 km)
- Cimarron (34 km)
- Cochetopa Creek (35 km)
- Black Canyon Of The Gunnison (46 km)
- Montrose 11 ENE (46 km)
- Lake City 1nne (48 km)
- Crested Butte (48 km)
- Lake City (51 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.