Frost Dates for 87108 — Albuquerque, New Mexico

Half of springs at Albuquerque International Airport, NM see their last 32°F night by April 6; only one in ten is past it by March 17, and one in ten still has one after April 23. Planting tender crops after April 12 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 17 20%, and after April 23 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 November 3 in half of years, as early as October 21 one year in ten, and holds off past November 16 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 15; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 7, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 208 days in a typical year, longer than at 80% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 230 days one year in ten and falls short of 187 one year in ten. On average 93 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 April 19, and return around October 25. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 90%.

July is the warmest month at Albuquerque International Airport, NM, averaging 91°F by day and 67°F at night; December is the coldest at 47°F and 27°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 67% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,250 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 70% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 38% of them (1,598) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 894. Precipitation totals 8.9 inches a year, most in July (1.6") and least in January (0.4"); May to September bring 57% of it.

The nearest other station, Albuquerque Foothills NE, NM, 6 miles northeast of Albuquerque and 684 feet higher, has a last frost 15 days later (April 21), a first frost 11 days earlier (October 23), a season 24 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Albuquerque usually arrives around November 29, and the last of the season around March 13. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Albuquerque International Airport, 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 24 days after the last snow.

ZIP 87108 is 3 miles from Albuquerque International Airport, NM, which stands at 5,310 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 87110 (Albuquerque). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87108 in zone 8a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.