Frost dates / By state
Frost dates in New Mexico
NOAA 1991–2020 normals for a 32 °F freeze. Your own yard can run a little either side.
Short answer
Across 19 NOAA weather stations in New Mexico, the average last spring frost runs from March 18 at Columbus to June 10 at Los Alamos 13 W. The first fall frost comes as early as September 13 at Los Alamos 13 W and as late as November 11 at Columbus. Planting zones near these stations run from 6a to 8a.
New Mexico cities
- Frost dates in Albuquerque: last frost April 6, first frost November 3
Find yours by ZIP code
The table below is by weather station. For the station nearest you, and your planting zone, type your ZIP code.
New Mexico frost dates by weather station
| Station | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Frost-free | Zone nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque Intl Airport 5,310 ft | April 6 1 in 10 after April 23 | November 3 1 in 10 by October 21 | 211 days | 8a |
| Carlsbad Cavern City Airport 3,232 ft | March 27 1 in 10 after April 13 | November 7 1 in 10 by October 26 | 225 days | 8a |
| Clayton Muni Air Pk 4,960 ft | April 27 1 in 10 after May 10 | October 17 1 in 10 by October 2 | 173 days | – |
| Clines Corners 7,086 ft | May 4 1 in 10 after May 18 | October 12 1 in 10 by September 30 | 161 days | 6b |
| Columbus 4,065 ft | March 18 1 in 10 after April 6 | November 11 1 in 10 by October 29 | 238 days | 8a |
| Deming Muni Airport 4,301 ft | April 5 1 in 10 after April 24 | November 5 1 in 10 by October 23 | 214 days | 8a |
| Farmington Rgnl Airport 5,495 ft | May 2 1 in 10 after May 18 | October 13 1 in 10 by September 29 | 164 days | 7a |
| Gallup Muni Airport 6,471 ft | May 31 1 in 10 after June 14 | September 28 1 in 10 by September 17 | 120 days | 6a |
| Grants Milan Muni Airport 6,520 ft | May 24 1 in 10 after June 9 | October 1 1 in 10 by September 19 | 130 days | 6a |
| Las Cruces 20 N 4,327 ft | April 24 1 in 10 after May 8 | October 24 1 in 10 by October 10 | 183 days | 7b |
| Las Vegas Muni Airport 6,874 ft | May 10 1 in 10 after May 23 | October 7 1 in 10 by September 26 | 150 days | – |
| Los Alamos 13 W 8,716 ft | June 10 1 in 10 after June 24 | September 13 1 in 10 by September 1 | 95 days | 6b |
| Raton Muni Crews Airport 6,349 ft | May 11 1 in 10 after May 24 | October 4 1 in 10 by September 21 | 146 days | 6a |
| Roswell Ind Air Pk 3,649 ft | March 29 1 in 10 after April 15 | November 7 1 in 10 by October 26 | 223 days | 7b |
| Santa Fe Co Muni Airport 6,344 ft | May 4 1 in 10 after May 17 | October 15 1 in 10 by October 4 | 164 days | 7a |
| Socorro 20 N 4,847 ft | April 12 1 in 10 after April 29 | October 27 1 in 10 by October 15 | 198 days | 7b |
| Truth Or Consequence Airport 4,850 ft | March 22 1 in 10 after April 10 | November 9 1 in 10 by October 27 | 232 days | 8a |
| Tucumcari Muni Airport 4,065 ft | April 18 1 in 10 after May 1 | October 26 1 in 10 by October 13 | 191 days | – |
| Zuni 6,311 ft | May 29 1 in 10 after June 13 | October 2 1 in 10 by September 21 | 126 days | 6a |
The average date is NOAA's 50% date: half of years have a later last frost, or an earlier first one. Plan by the 1-in-10 date if a freeze would cost you plants. Stations are NOAA's main weather stations, mostly airports. “Zone nearby” is the USDA 2023 zone of the nearest ZIP code within 10 miles. NOAA counts the frost season from August to July, so in the warmest places the “first fall” freeze lands after New Year.
How these dates work
Frost dates come from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 Climate Normals, which work out from each weather station's daily lows how likely the last spring freeze and the first fall freeze (32 °F) are by each date. We use the station nearest the middle of your ZIP code and show its height and distance, since a station on a hill or by a lake can differ from your yard.
The average date is the 50% date: half of years have a freeze after the spring date or before the fall one. The 1-in-10 dates are NOAA's 10% dates, the ones to plan by if a late freeze would cost you plants. Within one yard, cold air pools in low spots while walls and paving hold heat, so some corners freeze before others.
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Where the numbers come from
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
- PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University (zone data)
- NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal
- NOAA, Normals calculation methodology (frost-freeze probability dates)
- US Census Bureau, 2025 ZCTA gazetteer (ZIP code centers)