Checking current alerts… View NWS forecast and alerts.
Will it freeze in Rifle in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Fri, Nov 6: 31°F (Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 PM MST to Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 AM MST).
Tonight: forecast low 35°F. Frost possible.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM MST.
6 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 35°F Frost possible · Mostly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
- Fri, Nov 6 31°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 33°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 35°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 37°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 36°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
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 Rifle
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 15, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Rifle Garfield County Airport. 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 12 · May 26 · Jun 8 | Sep 12 · Sep 25 · Oct 6 | 119 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 28 · May 11 · May 27 | Sep 23 · Oct 4 · Oct 17 | 143 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 14 · Apr 28 · May 11 | Sep 30 · Oct 15 · Oct 27 | 167 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Rifle Garfield County Airport
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 Rifle, CO come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Rifle Garfield County Airport (station USW00003016, elevation 5,530 ft), 2.5 mi from Rifle. 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 Rifle
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glenwood Springs, CO | 23 mi | May 13 | Oct 3 |
| Carbondale, CO | 31 mi | May 13 | Oct 3 |
| Gypsum, CO | 43 mi | May 1 | Oct 14 |
| Eagle, CO | 51 mi | May 1 | Oct 14 |
| Grand Junction, CO | 53 mi | Apr 14 | Oct 23 |
| Aspen, CO | 55 mi | Jun 2 | Sep 23 |
| Delta, CO | 57 mi | May 1 | Oct 7 |
| Fruita, CO | 58 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 11 |
| Avon, CO | 67 mi | Jun 21 | Sep 7 |
| Craig, CO | 68 mi | Jun 6 | Sep 12 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Rifle?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Rifle is around May 11. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 27, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 28.
When is the first frost in Rifle?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 4. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 23 and a 90% chance by October 17.
Can it frost in Rifle 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 26.
What growing zone is Rifle?
Rifle 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 81652. See growing zones in Colorado.
More: all Colorado frost dates · Colorado growing zones · frost vs. freeze