Frost Dates for 87042 — Peralta, New Mexico

Half of springs at Los Lunas 3 SSW, NM see their last 32°F night by April 23; only one in ten is past it by April 9, and one in ten still has one after May 6. Planting tender crops after April 29 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 6 10%. The 13 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 80% of the 70 New Mexico stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 21 in half of years, as early as October 7 one year in ten, and holds off past November 2 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 31; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 26, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 178 days in a typical year, longer than at 53% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 196 days one year in ten and falls short of 160 one year in ten. On average 152 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 10 days longer, to about May 3, and return around October 10. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 25 and February 22.

July is the warmest month at Los Lunas 3 SSW, NM, averaging 93°F by day and 62°F at night; December is the coldest at 50°F and 20°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 24% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,837 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 57% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 36% of them (1,389) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 860. Precipitation totals 9.3 inches a year, most in July (1.6") and least in February (0.4"); May to September bring 57% of it.

The nearest other station, Albuquerque Valley, NM, 13 miles north of Peralta, has a last frost 5 days earlier (April 18), a first frost 3 days later (October 24), a season 11 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Peralta usually arrives around December 4, and the last of the season around February 5. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Los Lunas 3 SSW, NM, 6.4 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 88% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 77 days after the last snow.

ZIP 87042 is 6 miles from Los Lunas 3 SSW, NM, which stands at 4,840 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 87031 (Los Lunas). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87042 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.