Frost dates for Montrose 11 ENE, CO
At Montrose 11 ENE, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 20 and the median first fall frost is Oct 1, for a typical growing season of 132 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 4. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6b.
- May 20Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 4Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 1First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 132 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 19 | May 31 | Jun 16 |
| 32°F | May 4 | May 20 | Jun 4 |
| 28°F | Apr 23 | May 5 | May 21 |
| 24°F | Apr 13 | Apr 25 | May 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 | Sep 9 | Sep 22 | Oct 2 |
| 32°F | Sep 19 | Oct 1 | Oct 13 |
| 28°F | Sep 27 | Oct 8 | Oct 22 |
| 24°F | Oct 3 | Oct 18 | Nov 2 |
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 | 92 days | 112 days | 130 days |
| 32°F | 112 days | 132 days | 152 days |
| 28°F | 134 days | 154 days | 172 days |
| 24°F | 153 days | 173 days | 193 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81401 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 7 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 USW00003060, at 38.5439, -107.6928, elevation 2561 m (8,402 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 16 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 185.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Black Canyon Of The Gunnison (1 km)
- Cimarron (16 km)
- Montrose #2 (17 km)
- Montrose Regional Airport (18 km)
- Paonia 1sw (35 km)
- Delta 3e (37 km)
- Cedaredge 3e (44 km)
- Ridgway (44 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.