Frost dates for Rocky Ford 2 SE, CO
At Rocky Ford 2 SE, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 1 and the median first fall frost is Oct 8, for a typical growing season of 159 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 14. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 6a.
- May 1Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 14Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 8First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 159 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 30 | May 11 | May 25 |
| 32°F | Apr 20 | May 1 | May 14 |
| 28°F | Apr 7 | Apr 21 | May 3 |
| 24°F | Mar 24 | Apr 7 | Apr 22 |
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 19 | Sep 30 | Oct 10 |
| 32°F | Sep 26 | Oct 8 | Oct 19 |
| 28°F | Oct 5 | Oct 16 | Oct 27 |
| 24°F | Oct 13 | Oct 26 | Nov 6 |
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 | 125 days | 141 days | 158 days |
| 32°F | 142 days | 159 days | 176 days |
| 28°F | 160 days | 178 days | 197 days |
| 24°F | 180 days | 200 days | 217 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81067 | 6a | -10 to -5°F | 4 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 USC00057167, at 38.0383, -103.6947, elevation 1271 m (4,170 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 25 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 159.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- La Junta (15 km)
- La Junta Muni Airport (16 km)
- Cheraw 1 N (18 km)
- Ordway 1 ENE (21 km)
- La Junta 17 WSW (22 km)
- La Junta 20 S (37 km)
- Las Animas (42 km)
- Tacony 13 SE (46 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.