Frost Dates for 87144 — Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Half of springs at Rio Rancho #1, NM see their last 32°F night by April 16; only one in ten is past it by April 2, and one in ten still has one after May 2. Planting tender crops after April 22 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 27 20%, and after May 2 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 56% of the 70 New Mexico stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 23 in half of years, as early as October 12 one year in ten, and holds off past November 5 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 2; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 15, 17 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 191 days in a typical year, longer than at 67% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 209 days one year in ten and falls short of 172 one year in ten. On average 131 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 29, and return around October 16. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 6 and February 7.

July is the warmest month at Rio Rancho #1, NM, averaging 94°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 47°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 13% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,951 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 61% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 37% of them (1,460) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 882. Precipitation totals 10.4 inches a year, most in August (1.8") and least in June (0.4"); May to September bring 53% of it.

The nearest other station, Rio Rancho #2, NM, 3 miles south of Rio Rancho, has a last frost 8 days earlier (April 8), a first frost 9 days later (November 1), a season 12 days longer.

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, 3 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 56 days after the last snow.

ZIP 87144 is 2 miles from Rio Rancho #1, NM, which stands at 5,230 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87144 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.