Frost Dates for 87035 — Moriarty, New Mexico

Half of springs at Moriarty 1 NE, NM see their last 32°F night by May 14; only one in ten is past it by May 1, and one in ten still has one after June 2. Planting tender crops after May 21 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 26 20%, and after June 2 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 87% 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 16 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 14; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 21, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 142 days in a typical year, shorter than at 79% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 160 days one year in ten and falls short of 121 one year in ten. On average 181 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 14 days longer, to about May 28, and return around September 26. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 10 and March 24.

July is the warmest month at Moriarty 1 NE, NM, averaging 88°F by day and 54°F at night; January is the coldest at 45°F and 15°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From July to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 90% of years and June still brings one in 12% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,480 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 79% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 33% of them (818) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 638. Precipitation totals 12.8 inches a year, most in July (2.7") and least in February (0.4"); May to September bring 62% of it.

The nearest other station, Estancia 4N, NM, 12 miles south of Moriarty, has a last frost 4 days later (May 18), a first frost 3 days earlier (October 1), a season 7 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Moriarty usually arrives around November 22, and the last of the season around April 4. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Moriarty 1 NE, NM, 2.9 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 40 days after the last snow.

ZIP 87035 is 3 miles from Moriarty 1 NE, NM, which stands at 6,220 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 87015 (Edgewood). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87035 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.