Frost Dates for 87552 — Pecos, New Mexico

Half of springs at Pecos Nm, NM see their last 32°F night by May 15; only one in ten is past it by May 2, and one in ten still has one after May 31. Planting tender crops after May 22 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 26 20%, and after May 31 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 3 in half of years, as early as September 19 one year in ten, and holds off past October 15 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 13; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 19, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 138 days in a typical year, shorter than at 80% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 157 days one year in ten and falls short of 118 one year in ten. On average 174 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 28, and return around September 25. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 10 and March 24.

July is the warmest month at Pecos Nm, NM, averaging 85°F by day and 54°F at night; December is the coldest at 47°F and 18°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to May (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,345 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 86% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 32% of them (756) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 601. Precipitation totals 16.0 inches a year, most in July (3.2") and least in February (0.6"); May to September bring 63% of it.

The nearest other station, Santa Fe 2, NM, 19 miles west of Pecos, has a last frost 1 day earlier (May 14), a first frost 3 days later (October 6), a season 6 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Pecos usually arrives around November 13, and the last of the season around April 5. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Pecos Nm, NM, 5.7 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 91% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 40 days after the last snow.

ZIP 87552 is 6 miles from Pecos Nm, NM, which stands at 6,878 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 87508 (Santa Fe). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87552 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.