Frost Dates for 87045 — Prewitt, New Mexico

Half of springs at Thoreau 12 SE, NM see their last 32°F night by May 29; only one in ten is past it by May 11, and one in ten still has one after June 12. Planting tender crops after June 3 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after June 6 20%, and after June 12 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower 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 26 in half of years, as early as September 13 one year in ten, and holds off past October 6 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 7 days later, around October 3; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is June 2, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 118 days in a typical year, shorter than at 96% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 139 days one year in ten and falls short of 98 one year in ten. On average 205 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 8 days longer, to about June 6, and return around September 17. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between October 30 and April 1.

July is the warmest month at Thoreau 12 SE, NM, averaging 89°F by day and 52°F at night; January is the coldest at 48°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 2,435 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 83% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 33% of them (798) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 634. Precipitation totals 12.4 inches a year, most in August (2.4") and least in February (0.6"); May to September bring 58% of it.

The nearest other station, Grants Airport, NM, 17 miles south of Prewitt and 905 feet lower, has a last frost 12 days earlier (May 17), a first frost 7 days later (October 3), a season 19 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Prewitt usually arrives around November 8, and the last of the season around April 9. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Thoreau 12 SE, NM, 11.7 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 50 days after the last snow.

ZIP 87045 is 12 miles from Thoreau 12 SE, NM, which stands at 7,425 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 87323 (Thoreau). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87045 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.