Frost Dates for 87528 — Dulce, New Mexico

Half of springs at Dulce, NM see their last 32°F night by June 9; only one in ten is past it by May 25, and one in ten still has one after June 27. Planting tender crops after June 16 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after June 21 20%, and after June 27 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 80% of the 70 New Mexico stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by September 22 in half of years, as early as September 10 one year in ten, and holds off past October 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around September 30; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is June 10, 17 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 103 days in a typical year, the shortest of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 123 days one year in ten and falls short of 83 one year in ten. On average 217 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 June 24, and return around September 12. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 1 and April 2.

July is the warmest month at Dulce, NM, averaging 88°F by day and 50°F at night; January is the coldest at 44°F and 10°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 74% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,010 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 96% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 27% of them (540) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 586. Precipitation totals 17.5 inches a year, most in August (2.4") and least in June (0.7"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Ignacio 6ESE, CO, 36 miles northwest of Dulce and 245 feet lower, has a last frost 17 days earlier (May 23), a first frost 7 days later (September 29), a season 25 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Dulce usually arrives around November 5, and the last of the season around April 17. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Dulce, NM, 8.2 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 53 days after the last snow.

ZIP 87528 is 8 miles from Dulce, NM, which stands at 6,793 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 81147 (Pagosa Springs). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87528 in zone 5b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -15 to -10°F (-26.1 to -23.3°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.