Frost Dates for 87701 — Las Vegas, New Mexico

Half of springs at Las Vegas Municipal Airport, NM see their last 32°F night by May 10; only one in ten is past it by April 28, and one in ten still has one after May 23. Planting tender crops after May 15 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 19 20%, and after May 23 10%. The 13 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 80% of the 70 New Mexico stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 7 in half of years, as early as September 26 one year in ten, and holds off past October 19 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 16; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 14, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 149 days in a typical year, shorter than at 64% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 165 days one year in ten and falls short of 128 one year in ten. On average 155 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 22, and return around September 29. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 13 and March 21.

July is the warmest month at Las Vegas Municipal Airport, NM, averaging 84°F by day and 54°F at night; December is the coldest at 46°F and 20°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 82% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,361 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 84% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 33% of them (783) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 583. Precipitation totals 15.7 inches a year, most in July (3.2") and least in February (0.3"); May to September bring 73% of it.

The nearest other station, Pecos Nm, NM, 34 miles west of Las Vegas, has a last frost 5 days later (May 15), a first frost 4 days earlier (October 3), a season 11 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Las Vegas usually arrives around November 13, and the last of the season around March 23. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Las Vegas Wwtp, NM, 7.6 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 90% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 48 days after the last snow.

ZIP 87701 is 5 miles from Las Vegas Municipal Airport, NM, which stands at 6,874 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87701 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.