U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00264698 · Nevada

Frost Dates for Lovelock, NV

NOAA weather station Lovelock (USC00264698), Nevada · elevation 3973 ft (1211 m) · hardiness zone 6b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 31only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMay 1150% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 250% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season143 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone6bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Lovelock, NVSpring: a frost after April 26 in 9 years out of 10, after May 11 in half of the years, after May 31 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before September 19 in 1 year out of 10, before October 2 in half of the years, before October 16 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 143 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~May 11First frost ~Oct 2Frost season at Lovelock, NVSpring: a frost after April 26 in 9 years out of 10, after May 11 in half of the years, after May 31 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before September 19 in 1 year out of 10, before October 2 in half of the years, before October 16 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 143 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~May 11First frost ~Oct 2
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 25 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)May 31September 19
50% (typical)May 11October 2
90% (likely)April 26October 16
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
143 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
April 29
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
October 14

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost May 13 (2 days later than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 4 (2 days later). Frost-free season 145 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 Lovelock: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 31, 20% May 24, 30% May 19, 40% May 15, 50% May 11, 60% May 8, 70% May 4, 80% April 30, 90% April 26. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 28, 2022 May 12, 2023 May 9, 2025 April 19, 2026 April 18.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%May 1Jun 1May 31May 11Apr 262021: April 282022: May 122023: May 92025: April 192026: April 18Fall at Lovelock: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% September 19, 20% September 24, 30% September 27, 40% September 30, 50% October 2, 60% October 5, 70% October 8, 80% October 11, 90% October 16. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 October 12, 2022 October 23, 2023 October 26.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Sep 19Oct 2Oct 162021: October 122022: October 232023: October 26
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
2021April 28October 12
2022May 12October 23
2023May 9October 26
2024incomplete recordincomplete record
2025April 19incomplete record
2026April 18season not over yet

What these dates mean

Setting out tender crops on the early spring date of April 26 in Lovelock is a gamble, carrying a 90 % chance of a light frost later. Gardeners who wait until the cautious spring date of May 31 face only a 10 % chance of frost after that day.

The 50% date is May 11; there is a 50 % chance of a light frost later than this date, while the 50% date is October 2; there is a 50 % chance of a light frost earlier than this date. The 50% hard-frost dates are April 29 and October 14.

The cautious fall date for finishing tender crops is September 19, when a frost earlier than that day is only a 10 % chance. A hard frost at 28 °F can damage plants that survive a light frost at 32 °F, making it the more critical threshold.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after May 31" 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 September 19" 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 Lovelock, NVNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Imlay, NV — 37 mi; 2 — Winnemucca, NV — 62 mi; 3 — Sparks, NV — 79 mi; 4 — near Reno, NV — 83 mi; 5 — Virginia City, NV — 86 mi.CA50 mi · 80 km1. Imlay, NV — 37 mi12. Winnemucca, NV — 62 mi23. Sparks, NV — 79 mi34. near Reno, NV — 83 mi45. Virginia City, NV — 86 mi5
  1. Imlay, NV 37 mi (60 km)
  2. Winnemucca, NV 62 mi (99 km)
  3. Sparks, NV 79 mi (127 km)
  4. near Reno, NV 83 mi (134 km)
  5. Virginia City, NV 86 mi (138 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 6b: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 40.17, -118.4775.