U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00262243 · Nevada

Frost Dates for Desert NWR, NV

NOAA weather station Desert NWR (USC00262243), Nevada · elevation 2914 ft (888 m) · hardiness zone 8b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 13only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMarch 2250% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 750% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season229 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone8bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Desert NWR, NVSpring: a frost after February 28 in 9 years out of 10, after March 22 in half of the years, after April 13 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 21 in 1 year out of 10, before November 7 in half of the years, before November 22 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 229 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Mar 22First frost ~Nov 7Frost season at Desert NWR, NVSpring: a frost after February 28 in 9 years out of 10, after March 22 in half of the years, after April 13 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 21 in 1 year out of 10, before November 7 in half of the years, before November 22 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 229 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Mar 22First frost ~Nov 7
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.Today

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 27 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 13October 21
50% (typical)March 22November 7
90% (likely)February 28November 22
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
229 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 1
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 19

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost March 21 (1 day earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 10 (3 days later). Frost-free season 233 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 Desert NWR: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 13, 20% April 7, 30% April 2, 40% March 27, 50% March 22, 60% March 18, 70% March 13, 80% March 8, 90% February 28. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 March 11, 2022 April 13, 2023 April 6, 2024 March 31, 2025 April 4, 2026 April 18.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Mar 1Apr 1Apr 13Mar 22Feb 282021: March 112022: April 132023: April 62024: March 312025: April 42026: April 18Fall at Desert NWR: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 21, 20% October 28, 30% November 1, 40% November 4, 50% November 7, 60% November 11, 70% November 15, 80% November 18, 90% November 22. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 25, 2022 October 28, 2023 November 10.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Oct 21Nov 7Nov 222021: November 252022: October 282023: November 10
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
2021March 11November 25
2022April 13October 28
2023April 6November 10
2024March 31incomplete record
2025April 4incomplete record
2026April 18season not over yet

What these dates mean

The 229 days between the 32°F 50% dates in Desert NWR frame the interval in which light frosts are less likely. The median light-frost date in spring is March 22 and the median in fall is November 7; neither is a frost date. For hard frosts at 28°F, the 50% dates are March 1 in spring and November 19 in fall.

A cautious plan for tender crops uses the April 13 date in spring, which carries a 10 % chance of a light frost later, while the October 21 date in fall is the cautious point with only a 10 % chance of a frost earlier. Planting on February 28 would face a 90 % chance of a later frost, and keeping crops until November 22 would involve a 90 % chance of an earlier frost.

Hard frost at 28°F can injure plants that survive a 32°F light frost, so its occurrence is a greater threat.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after April 13" 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 October 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 Desert NWR, NVNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Mercury Desert Rock Airport, NV — 39 mi; 2 — Pahrump, NV — 41 mi; 3 — Overton, NV — 51 mi; 4 — Caliente, NV — 93 mi; 5 — New Harmony, UT — 134 mi.NVAZUT25 mi · 40 km1. Mercury Desert Rock Airport, NV — 39 mi12. Pahrump, NV — 41 mi23. Overton, NV — 51 mi34. Caliente, NV — 93 mi45. New Harmony, UT — 134 mi5
  1. Mercury Desert Rock Airport, NV 39 mi (63 km)
  2. Pahrump, NV 41 mi (65 km)
  3. Overton, NV 51 mi (82 km)
  4. Caliente, NV 93 mi (150 km)
  5. New Harmony, UT 134 mi (216 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 8b: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 36.4381, -115.36.