Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Elko, Nevada

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Elko Regional Airport, 1.2 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostMay 29
First fall frostSep 18
111 frost-free days
Last spring frostMay 291 year in 10 after Jun 16
First fall frostSep 181 year in 10 by Sep 3
Growing season111 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 5b−15 to −10°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Elko in the next 7 nights?

The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Tonight: 27°F (Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM PST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM PST).

Tonight: forecast low 27°F. Hard freeze.

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

7 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 Elko

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is September 29, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Elko Regional Airport. 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 27 · Jun 12 · Jun 30 Aug 23 · Sep 7 · Sep 21 86 days
32°F freeze May 10 · May 29 · Jun 16 Sep 3 · Sep 18 · Oct 1 111 days
28°F hard freeze Apr 24 · May 11 · May 31 Sep 15 · Sep 29 · Oct 14 139 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00024121. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Elko Regional 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 Elko, NV come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Elko Regional Airport (station USW00024121, elevation 5,030 ft), 1.2 mi from Elko. 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 Elko

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Winnemucca, NV 103 mi May 23 Sep 29
Twin Falls, ID 137 mi Apr 30 Oct 9
Kimberly, ID 137 mi May 6 Oct 3
Jerome, ID 145 mi May 2 Oct 14
Burley, ID 155 mi May 7 Oct 4
Mountain Home, ID 158 mi May 2 Oct 8
Rupert, ID 163 mi May 6 Oct 6
Fallon, NV 185 mi May 12 Oct 1
Kuna, ID 188 mi Apr 24 Oct 21
Boise, ID 192 mi Apr 24 Oct 21

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Elko?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Elko is around May 29. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after June 16, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after May 10.

When is the first frost in Elko?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around September 18. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 3 and a 90% chance by October 1.

Can it frost in Elko 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 June 12.

What growing zone is Elko?

Elko 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 89815. See growing zones in Nevada.

More: all Nevada frost dates · Nevada growing zones · frost vs. freeze