Frost Dates for 87417 — Kirtland, New Mexico

Half of springs at Fruitland, NM see their last 32°F night by May 12; only one in ten is past it by April 29, and one in ten still has one after May 29. Planting tender crops after May 20 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 23 20%, and after May 29 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider 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 4 in half of years, as early as September 21 one year in ten, and holds off past October 20 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 15; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 12, 17 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 143 days in a typical year, shorter than at 77% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 165 days one year in ten and falls short of 123 one year in ten. On average 156 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 15 days longer, to about May 27, and return around September 27. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 14 and March 14.

July is the warmest month at Fruitland, NM, averaging 92°F by day and 57°F at night; January is the coldest at 43°F and 16°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 84% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,963 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 60% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 32% of them (933) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 761. Precipitation totals 7.2 inches a year, most in August (1.0") and least in June (0.2"); May to September bring 44% of it.

The nearest other station, Farmington Ag Sci Cnt, NM, 6 miles southeast of Kirtland and 495 feet higher, has a last frost 13 days earlier (April 29), a first frost 11 days later (October 15), a season 24 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Kirtland usually arrives around December 4, and the last of the season around February 25. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Fruitland, NM, 2 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 76 days after the last snow.

ZIP 87417 is 2 miles from Fruitland, NM, which stands at 5,130 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87417 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.