Frost Dates for 87327 — Zuni, New Mexico

Half of springs at Zuni, NM see their last 32°F night by May 29; only one in ten is past it by May 9, and one in ten still has one after June 13. Planting tender crops after June 3 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after June 6 20%, and after June 13 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 2 in half of years, as early as September 21 one year in ten, and holds off past October 14 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around October 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is June 4, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 127 days in a typical year, shorter than at 89% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 148 days one year in ten and falls short of 107 one year in ten. On average 194 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 8 days longer, to about June 6, and return around September 25. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 10 and March 29.

July is the warmest month at Zuni, NM, averaging 90°F by day and 54°F at night; December is the coldest at 49°F and 16°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 41% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,648 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 70% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 29% of them (778) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 687. Precipitation totals 11.2 inches a year, most in August (2.0") and least in June (0.4"); May to September bring 50% of it.

The nearest other station, El Morro Natl Mon, NM, 21 miles east of Zuni and 912 feet higher, has a last frost 5 days later (June 3), a first frost 5 days earlier (September 27), a season 13 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Zuni usually arrives around December 8, and the last of the season around March 17. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Zuni, NM, 6.4 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 71% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 73 days after the last snow.

ZIP 87327 is 6 miles from Zuni, NM, which stands at 6,311 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87327 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.