Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for 80463 — Mc Coy, CO

ZIP code 80463 (Mc Coy, Eagle County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is June 14 and the first fall frost September 11.

Where ZIP 80463 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostJun 14
First frostSep 11
2012 zone4b

Was 4b on the 2012 map — a full zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Mc Coy, CO…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Mc Coy, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJune 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 11median — 10% chance by Aug 29
Growing season89 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 31 and returns around September 20.

From the NOAA station Yampa, CO — 14 miles away, elevation 7,858 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in 80463

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
SpinachSow outdoors · May 3 – May 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 17 – May 31
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
LettuceSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 19 – May 3
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 21 – Jul 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 28 – Jul 12
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 21 – Jul 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 21 – Jul 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 21 – Jul 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 17 – Jul 31
GarlicPlant cloves · Aug 28 – Oct 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jun 14) and first fall frost (Sep 11) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 80463 came on Apr 12 — 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (May 4).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 5b in Colorado

546 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Colorado, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 27

American elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fblack walnut100 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Fblack willow100 ft · blooms early spring · high shade tolerance · to −58 °Fblue spruce100 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Shrubs 98

alderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °Falpine laurel1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fantelope bitterbrush6 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °FApache plume6 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −23 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 246

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine aster0.3 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican alpine speedwell1 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican bistort1.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 163

Alaska oniongrass3 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAlpine Meadow-Foxtail0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Falpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Fanalogue sedge1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 3

riverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °Fwestern white clematis1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Mc Coy, CO.

Soil in Mc Coy, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 80463 is Rabbitears — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.6neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter5%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Rabbitears loam, 3 to 12 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 80463; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mc Coy, CO

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low7 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights222nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,206base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 01 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 20 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation22.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 32 °F, low 7 °F 32°7° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 9 °F 35°9° FebMarch: average high 43 °F, low 17 °F 43°17° MarApril: average high 52 °F, low 24 °F 52°24° AprMay: average high 62 °F, low 33 °F 62°33° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 40 °F 74°40° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 47 °F 79°47° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 45 °F 78°45° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 37 °F 70°37° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 27 °F 57°27° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 17 °F 42°17° NovDecember: average high 32 °F, low 8 °F 32°8° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 2.34 in precipitation 2.3 JanFebruary: 2.19 in precipitation 2.2 FebMarch: 2.02 in precipitation 2.0 MarApril: 2.61 in precipitation 2.6 AprMay: 2.02 in precipitation 2.0 MayJune: 1.17 in precipitation 1.2 JunJuly: 1.62 in precipitation 1.6 JulAugust: 1.46 in precipitation 1.5 AugSeptember: 1.50 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 1.75 in precipitation 1.8 OctNovember: 1.99 in precipitation 2.0 NovDecember: 2.04 in precipitation 2.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Yampa, CO (14 mi away); precipitation: Lynx Pass, CO (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

5 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

804795a
Toponas, CO · 5 mi
804835a
Yampa, CO · 12 mi
804235b
Bond, CO · 14 mi
804265b
Burns, CO · 14 mi
804675a
Oak Creek, CO · 16 mi
816556a
Wolcott, CO · 16 mi
804695a
Phippsburg, CO · 20 mi
816375b
Gypsum, CO · 23 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 80463

What planting zone is ZIP code 80463?

ZIP code 80463 (Mc Coy, CO) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Mc Coy, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 80463 is June 14; after June 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Yampa station.

When is the first frost in Mc Coy, CO?

The median first fall frost near 80463 is September 11, giving a median frost-free growing season of 89 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 80463?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 19 – May 3 and set transplants outside around Jun 21 – Jul 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 80463 get?

About 22.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lynx Pass station).

How hot do summers get in Mc Coy, CO?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 80463 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Rabbitears at the center of ZIP 80463: loam, well drained, pH about 6.6 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Mc Coy, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 80463 came on Apr 12 in 2026, 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (May 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Mc Coy, CO?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 80463 is 15 h 01 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 80463 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 80463 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.