Frost Dates for 87121 — Albuquerque, New Mexico

Half of springs at Albuquerque Valley, NM see their last 32°F night by April 18; only one in ten is past it by April 1, and one in ten still has one after May 3. Planting tender crops after April 24 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 28 20%, and after May 3 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 24 in half of years, as early as October 13 one year in ten, and holds off past November 4 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 2; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 18, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 189 days in a typical year, longer than at 64% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 208 days one year in ten and falls short of 170 one year in ten. On average 126 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 April 30, and return around October 15. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 99% of winters, usually between December 3 and February 10.

July is the warmest month at Albuquerque Valley, NM, averaging 93°F by day and 63°F at night; December is the coldest at 50°F and 22°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 16% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,935 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 60% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 37% of them (1,447) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 866. Precipitation totals 9.8 inches a year, most in July (1.5") and least in January (0.5"); May to September bring 55% of it.

The nearest other station, Petroglyph Natl Mon, NM, 6 miles north of Albuquerque and 166 feet higher, has a last frost 3 days earlier (April 15), a first frost 3 days later (October 27), a season 4 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Albuquerque usually arrives around December 3, and the last of the season around February 19. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Albuquerque Valley, NM, 3.4 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 97% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 58 days after the last snow.

ZIP 87121 is 3 miles from Albuquerque Valley, NM, which stands at 4,955 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87121 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.