Frost dates for Mercury Desert Rock Airport, NV
At Mercury Desert Rock Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 16 and the median first fall frost is Nov 17, for a typical growing season of 242 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 9. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 8a to 8b.
- Mar 16Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 9Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 17First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 242 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 | Mar 15 | Apr 6 | Apr 24 |
| 32°F | Feb 22 | Mar 16 | Apr 9 |
| 28°F | Jan 22 | Feb 20 | Mar 18 |
| 24°F | Dec 25 | Jan 22 | Feb 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 22 | Nov 6 | Nov 19 |
| 32°F | Oct 31 | Nov 17 | Dec 1 |
| 28°F | Nov 12 | Nov 30 | Dec 17 |
| 24°F | Nov 24 | Dec 15 | Jan 17 |
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 | 187 days | 212 days | 237 days |
| 32°F | 214 days | 242 days | 270 days |
| 28°F | 248 days | 281 days | 314 days |
| 24°F | 283 days | 325 days | 358 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 94% |
Closest ZIP codes (each is closer to another station)
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 89060 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 26 km |
| 89018 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 33 km |
| 89020 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 36 km |
| 89070 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 37 km |
| 89124 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 40 km |
| 89048 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 51 km |
| 89166 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 59 km |
| 89061 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 62 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 USW00003160, at 36.6206, -116.0278, elevation 984 m (3,230 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 28 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 47.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Mercury 3 SSW (1 km)
- Amargosa Farms-Garey (39 km)
- Pahrump 4 NW (40 km)
- Mount Charleston Fire Station (53 km)
- Desert Nwr (63 km)
- Beatty 8 N (74 km)
- Red Rock Canyon - Spg Mount Rch S (80 km)
- Las Vegas Air Terminal (87 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.