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Will it freeze in Sterling in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Tonight: 31°F (Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM MST).
Tonight: forecast low 31°F. Freeze.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM MST.
5 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 31°F Freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 32°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 32°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 36°F Frost possible · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 35°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 38°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 37°F Above 36°F · 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 Sterling
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 18, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Sterling. 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 | Apr 30 · May 11 · May 24 | Sep 18 · Oct 1 · Oct 11 | 142 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 16 · Apr 30 · May 12 | Sep 28 · Oct 9 · Oct 20 | 161 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 4 · Apr 18 · May 3 | Oct 6 · Oct 18 · Oct 29 | 180 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Sterling
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 Sterling, CO come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Sterling (station USC00057950, elevation 3,974 ft), 1.0 mi from Sterling. 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 Sterling
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brush, CO | 34 mi | May 6 | Oct 6 |
| Sidney, NE | 37 mi | May 15 | Sep 30 |
| Fort Morgan, CO | 40 mi | May 6 | Oct 6 |
| Eaton, CO | 80 mi | May 2 | Oct 8 |
| Evans, CO | 84 mi | May 2 | Oct 8 |
| Greeley, CO | 84 mi | May 2 | Oct 8 |
| Gering, NE | 87 mi | May 8 | Oct 3 |
| Severance, CO | 88 mi | May 3 | Oct 6 |
| Scottsbluff, NE | 89 mi | May 8 | Oct 3 |
| Milliken, CO | 90 mi | May 2 | Oct 8 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Sterling?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Sterling is around April 30. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 12, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 16.
When is the first frost in Sterling?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 9. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 28 and a 90% chance by October 20.
Can it frost in Sterling 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 11.
What growing zone is Sterling?
Sterling 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 80751. See growing zones in Colorado.
More: all Colorado frost dates · Colorado growing zones · frost vs. freeze