Frost Dates for 87402 — Farmington, New Mexico

Half of springs at Farmington Regional Airport, NM see their last 32°F night by May 2; only one in ten is past it by April 20, and one in ten still has one after May 18. Planting tender crops after May 8 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 12 20%, and after May 18 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 13 in half of years, as early as September 29 one year in ten, and holds off past October 25 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 22; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 4, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 160 days in a typical year, shorter than at 59% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 179 days one year in ten and falls short of 141 one year in ten. On average 149 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 16 days longer, to about May 18, and return around October 4. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 23 and February 25.

July is the warmest month at Farmington Regional Airport, NM, averaging 93°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 43°F and 19°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 58% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,343 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 51% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 33% of them (1,088) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 840. Precipitation totals 7.9 inches a year, most in September (1.1") and least in June (0.2"); May to September bring 41% of it.

The nearest other station, Aztec Ruins Nm, NM, 9 miles northeast of Farmington, has a last frost 10 days later (May 12), a first frost 7 days earlier (October 6), a season 13 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 February 26. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Aztec Ruins Nm, NM, 8.7 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 96% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 65 days after the last snow.

ZIP 87402 is 6 miles from Farmington Regional Airport, NM, which stands at 5,495 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87402 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.