Frost dates for La Junta 17 WSW, CO
At La Junta 17 WSW, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 8 and the median first fall frost is Oct 4, for a typical growing season of 148 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 25. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6a.
- May 8Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 25Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 4First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 148 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 4 | May 20 | Jun 4 |
| 32°F | Apr 26 | May 8 | May 25 |
| 28°F | Apr 13 | Apr 29 | May 13 |
| 24°F | Mar 31 | Apr 17 | May 4 |
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 17 | Sep 28 | Oct 8 |
| 32°F | Sep 24 | Oct 4 | Oct 15 |
| 28°F | Oct 1 | Oct 11 | Oct 22 |
| 24°F | Oct 7 | Oct 18 | Oct 30 |
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 | 111 days | 129 days | 148 days |
| 32°F | 127 days | 148 days | 165 days |
| 28°F | 147 days | 166 days | 182 days |
| 24°F | 164 days | 185 days | 204 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81039 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 25 km |
| 81059 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 37 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 USW00003063, at 37.8639, -103.8225, elevation 1337 m (4,386 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 16 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 175.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Rocky Ford 2 SE (22 km)
- La Junta (28 km)
- La Junta 20 S (33 km)
- La Junta Muni Airport (34 km)
- Cheraw 1 N (39 km)
- Ordway 1 ENE (40 km)
- Tacony 13 SE (57 km)
- Las Animas (58 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.