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Will it freeze in Golden in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Golden during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 38°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM MST.
1 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 37°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 43°F Above 36°F · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 42°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 41°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 41°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
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 Golden
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 16, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Lakewood. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.
| Temperature | Last 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 1 · May 14 · May 29 | Sep 16 · Sep 30 · Oct 12 | 137 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 19 · May 3 · May 18 | Sep 24 · Oct 7 · Oct 21 | 155 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 5 · Apr 22 · May 7 | Oct 1 · Oct 16 · Oct 30 | 176 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Lakewood
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 Golden, CO come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Lakewood (station USC00054762, elevation 5,640 ft), 4.8 mi from Golden. 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 Golden
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood, CO | 5.6 mi | May 3 | Oct 7 |
| Wheat Ridge, CO | 6.2 mi | May 5 | Oct 5 |
| Arvada, CO | 6.8 mi | May 5 | Oct 5 |
| Sheridan, CO | 12 mi | May 2 | Oct 11 |
| Westminster, CO | 12 mi | May 2 | Oct 11 |
| Englewood, CO | 13 mi | May 2 | Oct 11 |
| Superior, CO | 13 mi | May 6 | Oct 5 |
| Federal Heights, CO | 14 mi | May 2 | Oct 11 |
| Littleton, CO | 14 mi | May 2 | Oct 11 |
| Cherry Hills Village, CO | 16 mi | May 7 | Oct 8 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Golden?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Golden is around May 3. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 18, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 19.
When is the first frost in Golden?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 7. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 24 and a 90% chance by October 21.
Can it frost in Golden 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 14.
What growing zone is Golden?
Golden is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −15 to −10°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 80401. See growing zones in Colorado.
More: all Colorado frost dates · Colorado growing zones · frost vs. freeze