Frost Dates for 87007 — Paraje, New Mexico

Half of springs at Cubero, NM see their last 32°F night by May 13; only one in ten is past it by April 29, and one in ten still has one after May 29. Planting tender crops after May 20 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 24 20%, and after May 29 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 56% of the 70 New Mexico stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 4 in half of years, as early as September 22 one year in ten, and holds off past October 18 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 15; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 17, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 145 days in a typical year, shorter than at 71% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 164 days one year in ten and falls short of 124 one year in ten. On average 162 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 13 days longer, to about May 26, and return around September 28. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 13 and March 17.

July is the warmest month at Cubero, NM, averaging 90°F by day and 57°F at night; December is the coldest at 48°F and 18°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 83% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,001 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 59% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 34% of them (1,025) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 733. Precipitation totals 10.1 inches a year, most in July (1.9") and least in February (0.4"); May to September bring 60% of it.

The nearest other station, Grants Airport, NM, 27 miles west of Paraje and 325 feet higher, has a last frost 4 days later (May 17), a first frost 1 day earlier (October 3), a season 8 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Paraje usually arrives around November 28, and the last of the season around February 28. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Cubero, NM, 4.7 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 97% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 74 days after the last snow.

ZIP 87007 is 5 miles from Cubero, NM, which stands at 6,195 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 87026 (Laguna). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87007 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.