Frost Dates for 87013 — Cuba, New Mexico

Half of springs at Star Lake, NM see their last 32°F night by May 28; only one in ten is past it by May 12, and one in ten still has one after June 14. Planting tender crops after June 3 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after June 7 20%, and after June 14 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 66% of the 70 New Mexico stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by September 28 in half of years, as early as September 15 one year in ten, and holds off past October 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 7 days later, around October 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is June 2, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 121 days in a typical year, shorter than at 90% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 140 days one year in ten and falls short of 101 one year in ten. On average 196 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 9 days longer, to about June 6, and return around September 21. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 3 and April 7.

July is the warmest month at Star Lake, NM, averaging 87°F by day and 53°F at night; January is the coldest at 42°F and 12°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to May (a 90% chance or more). From July to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, June still brings one in 40% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,289 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 89% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 30% of them (680) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 631. Precipitation totals 10.2 inches a year, most in August (2.0") and least in February (0.4"); May to September bring 60% of it.

The nearest other station, Chaco Canyon Natl Mon, NM, 30 miles west of Cuba and 461 feet lower, has the same 50% last-frost date, a first frost 1 day earlier (September 27), a season 1 day shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Cuba usually arrives around November 25, and the last of the season around April 7. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Star Lake, NM, 5.2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 51 days after the last snow.

ZIP 87013 is 5 miles from Star Lake, NM, which stands at 6,635 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87013 in zone 6a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.