Frost Dates for 87124 — Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Half of springs at Rio Rancho #2, NM see their last 32°F night by April 8; only one in ten is past it by March 24, and one in ten still has one after April 28. Planting tender crops after April 15 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 20 20%, and after April 28 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 93% of the 70 New Mexico stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 1 in half of years, as early as October 20 one year in ten, and holds off past November 12 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around November 9; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 5, 23 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 203 days in a typical year, longer than at 79% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 222 days one year in ten and falls short of 184 one year in ten. On average 116 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 18 days longer, to about April 26, and return around October 22. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 97% of winters, usually between December 16 and January 28.

July is the warmest month at Rio Rancho #2, NM, averaging 96°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 50°F and 24°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 77% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,288 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 71% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 36% of them (1,562) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 924. Precipitation totals 9.6 inches a year, most in August (1.7") and least in March (0.4"); May to September bring 55% of it.

The nearest other station, Rio Rancho #1, NM, 5 miles east of Rio Rancho, has a last frost 8 days later (April 16), a first frost 9 days earlier (October 23), a season 12 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Rio Rancho usually arrives around December 8, and the last of the season around February 19. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Rio Rancho #2, NM, 5.2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 93% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 48 days after the last snow.

ZIP 87124 is 5 miles from Rio Rancho #2, NM, which stands at 5,290 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 87114 (Albuquerque). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87124 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.