Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Arvada, Colorado

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Wheat Ridge 2, 4.4 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostMay 5
First fall frostOct 5
151 frost-free days
Last spring frostMay 51 year in 10 after May 18
First fall frostOct 51 year in 10 by Sep 20
Growing season151 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 6a−10 to −5°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Arvada in the next 7 nights?

No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Arvada during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.

Tonight: forecast low 37°F. Above 36°F.

NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM MST.

2 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.

Overnight lows from the National Weather Service forecast for this location. This covers the available forecast window, not the first freeze of the whole season. Frost can form above 32°F on clear, calm nights.

Frost and freeze probabilities

Freeze dates shift from year to year. Spring percentages describe the chance of a freeze after the stated date; fall percentages describe the chance of a freeze by that date. The 10% spring date is the cautious one: a later freeze happens about 1 year in 10.

These dates describe historical probabilities, not this year’s forecast or the earliest and latest possible freezes. Different weather stations or probability thresholds can produce different published dates for the same city.

Average first hard freeze in Arvada

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 14, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Wheat Ridge 2. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.

TemperatureLast spring date
90% · 50% · 10% chance of a later freeze
First fall date
10% · 50% · 90% chance of an earlier freeze
Season
36°F frost possible May 5 · May 16 · May 31 Sep 13 · Sep 26 · Oct 7 131 days
32°F freeze Apr 24 · May 5 · May 18 Sep 20 · Oct 5 · Oct 18 151 days
28°F hard freeze Apr 11 · Apr 25 · May 9 Sep 28 · Oct 14 · Oct 26 170 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00058995. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Wheat Ridge 2

Average low temperature by month

Months with lows near or below freezing carry frost risk

Where these frost dates come from

The frost dates for Arvada, CO come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Wheat Ridge 2 (station USC00058995, elevation 5,398 ft), 4.4 mi from Arvada. Local conditions (valleys, hilltops, distance to water, city heat) can shift frost dates by days or weeks. The hardiness zone is from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA ARS and Oregon State University PRISM). See our methodology.

Frost dates near Arvada

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Wheat Ridge, CO 5.0 mi May 5 Oct 5
Westminster, CO 5.6 mi May 2 Oct 11
Superior, CO 6.8 mi May 6 Oct 5
Golden, CO 6.8 mi May 3 Oct 7
Federal Heights, CO 7.5 mi May 2 Oct 11
Louisville, CO 9.3 mi May 6 Oct 5
Lakewood, CO 9.3 mi May 3 Oct 7
Broomfield, CO 9.9 mi May 2 Oct 11
Northglenn, CO 11 mi May 2 Oct 11
Lafayette, CO 11 mi May 2 Oct 11

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Arvada?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Arvada is around May 5. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 18, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 24.

When is the first frost in Arvada?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 5. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 20 and a 90% chance by October 18.

Can it frost in Arvada after the last frost date?

Yes. Frost can form on clear, calm nights even when the air stays above 32°F. Temperatures of 36°F or lower, cold enough for frost on exposed plants, have a 50% chance of occurring after May 16.

What growing zone is Arvada?

Arvada is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a (average annual extreme minimum temperature −10 to −5°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 80005. See growing zones in Colorado.

More: all Colorado frost dates · Colorado growing zones · UV index today in Arvada · frost vs. freeze