Frost dates for Mesa Verde National Park, CO
At Mesa Verde National Park, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 9 and the median first fall frost is Oct 14, for a typical growing season of 156 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 27. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 7a.
- May 9Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 27Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 14First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 156 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 5 | May 21 | Jun 8 |
| 32°F | Apr 24 | May 9 | May 27 |
| 28°F | Apr 9 | Apr 27 | May 13 |
| 24°F | Mar 19 | Apr 12 | May 2 |
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 22 | Oct 4 | Oct 17 |
| 32°F | Oct 1 | Oct 14 | Oct 26 |
| 28°F | Oct 10 | Oct 24 | Nov 9 |
| 24°F | Oct 19 | Nov 5 | Nov 21 |
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 | 133 days | 154 days |
| 32°F | 133 days | 156 days | 176 days |
| 28°F | 159 days | 181 days | 203 days |
| 24°F | 181 days | 204 days | 234 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81334 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 12 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 USC00055531, at 37.1997, -108.4892, elevation 2177 m (7,142 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 24 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 156.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Cortez 8 SE (6 km)
- Cortez Montezuma Co Airport (17 km)
- Cortez (19 km)
- Mancos 1sw (21 km)
- Fort Lewis (39 km)
- Yellow Jacket 2w (43 km)
- Yellow Jacket 4ne (43 km)
- Durango (57 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.