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

Planting zone for 81648 — Rangely, CO

ZIP code 81648 (Rangely, Rio Blanco County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 81648 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostMay 15
First frostOct 1
2012 zone5a

Was 5a 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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Rangely, 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 Rangely, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 19
Growing season136 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 3 and returns around October 10.

From the NOAA station Rangely 1e, CO — 13 miles away, elevation 5,276 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 81648

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 29 – Jun 12
BeansSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Oct 1) 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 81648 came on Mar 17 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5).

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 6a in Colorado

563 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Colorado, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 28

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 104

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 251

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 167

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 4

riverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Rangely, CO.

Soil in Rangely, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 81648 is Rentsac — channery loam, well drained.

TextureChannery loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.5slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Rentsac-Moyerson-Rock outcrop complex, 5 to 65 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 81648; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Rangely, CO

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low3 °Faverage low, January
Hot days51days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights176nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,640base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 00 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)
Precipitation10.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall30 inper year; 66 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 31 °F, low 3 °F 31°3° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 10 °F 40°10° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 23 °F 54°23° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 30 °F 62°30° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 40 °F 73°40° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 49 °F 85°49° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 55 °F 93°55° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 53 °F 90°53° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 44 °F 80°44° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 31 °F 66°31° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 19 °F 48°19° NovDecember: average high 33 °F, low 6 °F 33°6° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″January: 0.67 in precipitation, 8 in snowfall 0.7❄8 JanFebruary: 0.68 in precipitation, 5.6 in snowfall 0.7❄6 FebMarch: 0.87 in precipitation, 3.1 in snowfall 0.9❄3 MarApril: 1.06 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 1.1❄1 AprMay: 1.22 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.2 MayJune: 0.73 in precipitation 0.7 JunJuly: 0.68 in precipitation 0.7 JulAugust: 0.96 in precipitation 1.0 AugSeptember: 1.29 in precipitation 1.3 SepOctober: 1.23 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 1.2❄1 OctNovember: 0.88 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 0.9❄3 NovDecember: 0.62 in precipitation, 7.4 in snowfall 0.6❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Rangely 1e, CO (13 mi away); precipitation: Rangely 1e, CO (13 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.

840086a
Bonanza, UT · 23 mi
816106a
Dinosaur, CO · 27 mi
816306b
De Beque, CO · 33 mi
816335b
Dinosaur, CO · 37 mi
816506a
Rifle, CO · 38 mi
815246b
Loma, CO · 43 mi
840355b
Jensen, UT · 44 mi
815257a
Mack, CO · 46 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 81648

What planting zone is ZIP code 81648?

ZIP code 81648 (Rangely, CO) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Rangely, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 81648 is May 15; after June 2 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rangely 1e station.

When is the first frost in Rangely, CO?

The median first fall frost near 81648 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 136 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 81648?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 20 – Apr 3 and set transplants outside around May 22 – Jun 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 81648 get?

About 10.9 inches of precipitation a year and 30 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rangely 1e station).

How hot do summers get in Rangely, CO?

The average high peaks at 93 °F in July, with about 51 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 81648 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Rentsac at the center of ZIP 81648: channery loam, well drained, pH about 7.5 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Rangely, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 81648 came on Mar 17 in 2026, 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Rangely, CO?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 81648 is 15 h 00 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 81648 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 81648 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.