U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00051713 · Colorado

Frost Dates for Cochetopa Creek, CO

NOAA weather station Cochetopa Creek (USC00051713), Colorado · elevation 8006 ft (2440 m) · hardiness zone 4b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter July 7only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostJune 2150% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostSeptember 550% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season74 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone4bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Cochetopa Creek, COSpring: a frost after June 7 in 9 years out of 10, after June 21 in half of the years, after July 7 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before August 21 in 1 year out of 10, before September 5 in half of the years, before September 16 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 74 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Jun 21First frost ~Sep 5Frost season at Cochetopa Creek, COSpring: a frost after June 7 in 9 years out of 10, after June 21 in half of the years, after July 7 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before August 21 in 1 year out of 10, before September 5 in half of the years, before September 16 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 74 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Jun 21First frost ~Sep 5
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 28 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)July 7August 21
50% (typical)June 21September 5
90% (likely)June 7September 16
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
74 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
June 7
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
September 16

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost June 14 (7 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost September 8 (3 days later). Frost-free season 84 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at Cochetopa Creek: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% July 7, 20% June 30, 30% June 27, 40% June 24, 50% June 21, 60% June 18, 70% June 16, 80% June 12, 90% June 7. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 June 1, 2022 June 1, 2023 June 24, 2024 June 2, 2025 May 26, 2026 June 30.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Jun 1Jul 1Jul 7Jun 21Jun 72021: June 12022: June 12023: June 242024: June 22025: May 262026: June 30Fall at Cochetopa Creek: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% August 21, 20% August 27, 30% September 1, 40% September 3, 50% September 5, 60% September 7, 70% September 10, 80% September 12, 90% September 16. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 September 17, 2022 September 12, 2023 September 9, 2024 September 7, 2025 September 15.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Sep 1Aug 21Sep 5Sep 162021: September 172022: September 122023: September 92024: September 72025: September 15
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there. ◆ marks the actual date in each recent year.

What actually happened in recent years

Observed dates of the last spring and first fall frost (32°F) at this station; ◆ marks them on the charts above
YearLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2021June 1September 17
2022June 1September 12
2023June 24September 9
2024June 2September 7
2025May 26September 15
2026June 30season not over yet

What these dates mean

Setting out tender crops on the early spring date, June 7, carries a 90% chance of a frost later that season in Cochetopa Creek, so planting then is a gamble. The cautious date for a low-risk start is July 7, when only a 10% chance of a frost remains. The 50% date is June 21, meaning there is an even chance of a frost later than this point.

In the fall, finishing tender crops by the cautious date of August 21 leaves only a 10% chance that a frost has already arrived. Waiting until September 16 is a gamble, because the chance of a frost earlier than that date is 90%. The 50% date is September 5, indicating an even chance of a frost earlier than this point. A hard frost at 28 °F can damage plant tissue that would survive a light frost at 32 °F, making it a more serious threat.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after July 7" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before August 21" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near Cochetopa Creek, CONumbered nearest stations: 1 — Taylor Park, CO — 27 mi; 2 — Buena Vista, CO — 43 mi; 3 — Paonia, CO — 54 mi; 4 — Monte Vista, CO — 67 mi; 5 — Westcliffe, CO — 73 mi.CO25 mi · 40 km1. Taylor Park, CO — 27 mi12. Buena Vista, CO — 43 mi23. Paonia, CO — 54 mi34. Monte Vista, CO — 67 mi45. Westcliffe, CO — 73 mi5
  1. Taylor Park, CO 27 mi (44 km)
  2. Buena Vista, CO 43 mi (70 km)
  3. Paonia, CO 54 mi (88 km)
  4. Monte Vista, CO 67 mi (108 km)
  5. Westcliffe, CO 73 mi (118 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 4b: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 38.4431, -106.7617.