Frost Dates for 87740 — Raton, New Mexico

Half of springs at Raton Municipal Crews Airport, NM see their last 32°F night by May 11; only one in ten is past it by April 29, and one in ten still has one after May 24. Planting tender crops after May 16 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 19 20%, and after May 24 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 4 in half of years, as early as September 21 one year in ten, and holds off past October 15 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around October 12; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 15, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 145 days in a typical year, shorter than at 71% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 163 days one year in ten and falls short of 125 one year in ten. On average 177 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 23, and return around September 26. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 8 and March 25.

July is the warmest month at Raton Municipal Crews Airport, NM, averaging 87°F by day and 54°F at night; December is the coldest at 46°F and 14°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 85% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,493 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 77% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 33% of them (811) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 638. Precipitation totals 13.8 inches a year, most in July (2.6") and least in February (0.3"); May to September bring 69% of it.

The nearest other station, Trinidad, CO, 28 miles north of Raton and 319 feet lower, has a last frost 11 days earlier (April 30), a first frost 11 days later (October 15), a season 22 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Raton usually arrives around November 3, and the last of the season around April 14. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Raton Krtn Radio, NM, 7.5 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 27 days after the last snow.

ZIP 87740 is 7 miles from Raton Municipal Crews Airport, NM, which stands at 6,349 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87740 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.