Frost Dates for 87557 — Ranchos De Taos, New Mexico

Half of springs at Taos, NM see their last 32°F night by May 19; only one in ten is past it by May 7, and one in ten still has one after May 31. Planting tender crops after May 25 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 28 20%, and after May 31 10%. The 12 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 93% 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 23 one year in ten, and holds off past October 14 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 7 days later, around October 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 20, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 136 days in a typical year, shorter than at 84% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 152 days one year in ten and falls short of 119 one year in ten. On average 183 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 12 days longer, to about May 31, and return around September 26. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 9 and March 17.

July is the warmest month at Taos, NM, averaging 87°F by day and 53°F at night; January is the coldest at 42°F and 12°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 2,285 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 90% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 31% of them (700) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 608. Precipitation totals 12.8 inches a year, most in August (1.8") and least in February (0.5"); May to September bring 53% of it.

The nearest other station, Cerro, NM, 26 miles north of Ranchos De Taos and 685 feet higher, has a last frost 12 days later (May 31), a first frost 7 days earlier (September 26), a season 20 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Ranchos De Taos usually arrives around November 26, and the last of the season around March 19. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Taos, NM, 5.3 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 61 days after the last snow.

ZIP 87557 is 5 miles from Taos, NM, which stands at 6,965 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 87571 (Taos). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87557 in zone 6a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.