Frost Dates for 87113 — Albuquerque, New Mexico

Half of springs at Corrales, NM see their last 32°F night by April 25; only one in ten is past it by April 11, and one in ten still has one after May 10. Planting tender crops after May 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 4 20%, and after May 10 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 46% of the 70 New Mexico stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 17 in half of years, as early as October 4 one year in ten, and holds off past October 30 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 27; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 26, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 173 days in a typical year, longer than at 50% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 191 days one year in ten and falls short of 154 one year in ten. On average 151 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 12 days longer, to about May 7, and return around October 7. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 29 and February 21.

July is the warmest month at Corrales, NM, averaging 92°F by day and 61°F at night; December is the coldest at 48°F and 21°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October 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 32% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,524 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 50% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 35% of them (1,244) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 818. Precipitation totals 9.7 inches a year, most in August (1.7") and least in February (0.4"); May to September bring 55% of it.

The nearest other station, Rio Rancho #2, NM, 6 miles northwest of Albuquerque and 264 feet higher, has a last frost 17 days earlier (April 8), a first frost 15 days later (November 1), a season 30 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Albuquerque usually arrives around November 29, and the last of the season around February 25. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Albuquerque 4.6 E, NM, 4.6 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 59 days after the last snow.

ZIP 87113 is 5 miles from Corrales, NM, which stands at 5,026 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87113 in zone 7b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.