Frost Dates for 87401 — Farmington, New Mexico

Half of springs at Farmington Ag Sci Cnt, NM see their last 32°F night by April 29; only one in ten is past it by April 15, and one in ten still has one after May 13. Planting tender crops after May 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 8 20%, and after May 13 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 66% of the 70 New Mexico stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 15 in half of years, as early as October 1 one year in ten, and holds off past October 29 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 26; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 2, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 167 days in a typical year, shorter than at 51% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 186 days one year in ten and falls short of 147 one year in ten. On average 140 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 May 12, and return around October 7. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 23 and February 24.

July is the warmest month at Farmington Ag Sci Cnt, NM, averaging 90°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 41°F and 20°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October 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 44% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,275 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 54% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 33% of them (1,080) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 798. Precipitation totals 8.0 inches a year, most in September (1.1") and least in June (0.3"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Farmington Regional Airport, NM, 8 miles north of Farmington, has a last frost 3 days later (May 2), a first frost 2 days earlier (October 13), a season 7 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Farmington usually arrives around November 30, and the last of the season around March 8. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Farmington Ag Sci Cnt, NM, 7.8 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 52 days after the last snow.

ZIP 87401 is 8 miles from Farmington Ag Sci Cnt, NM, which stands at 5,625 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87401 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.