Frost Dates for 87321 — Ramah, New Mexico

Half of springs at El Morro Natl Mon, NM see their last 32°F night by June 3; only one in ten is past it by May 20, and one in ten still has one after June 15. Planting tender crops after June 8 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after June 11 20%, and after June 15 10%. The 12 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 93% of the 70 New Mexico stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by September 27 in half of years, as early as September 14 one year in ten, and holds off past October 7 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 7 days later, around October 4; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is June 6, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 114 days in a typical year, shorter than at 99% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 133 days one year in ten and falls short of 96 one year in ten. On average 201 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 9 days longer, to about June 12, and return around September 19. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 2 and April 3.

July is the warmest month at El Morro Natl Mon, NM, averaging 85°F by day and 51°F at night; January is the coldest at 44°F and 14°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to May (a 90% chance or more). From July to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, June still brings one in 60% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,987 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 97% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 28% of them (563) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 558. Precipitation totals 13.9 inches a year, most in August (2.7") and least in June (0.5"); May to September bring 55% of it.

The nearest other station, Zuni, NM, 25 miles west of Ramah and 912 feet lower, has a last frost 5 days earlier (May 29), a first frost 5 days later (October 2), a season 13 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Ramah usually arrives around November 10, and the last of the season around April 23. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at El Morro Natl Mon, NM, 4.5 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 41 days after the last snow.

ZIP 87321 is 5 miles from El Morro Natl Mon, NM, which stands at 7,223 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87321 in zone 6a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.