Frost Dates for 87825 — Magdalena, New Mexico

Half of springs at Augustine 2E, NM see their last 32°F night by May 19; only one in ten is past it by May 5, and one in ten still has one after June 6. Planting tender crops after May 26 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 31 20%, and after June 6 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 October 4 in half of years, as early as September 23 one year in ten, and holds off past October 15 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 13; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 25, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 137 days in a typical year, shorter than at 81% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 156 days one year in ten and falls short of 117 one year in ten. On average 176 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 27. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 8 and March 29.

July is the warmest month at Augustine 2E, NM, averaging 82°F by day and 56°F at night; December is the coldest at 46°F and 17°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 17% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,213 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 93% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 32% of them (711) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 587. Precipitation totals 13.2 inches a year, most in August (2.8") and least in January (0.5"); May to September bring 67% of it.

The nearest other station, Socorro, NM, 28 miles east of Magdalena and 2,407 feet lower, has a last frost 33 days earlier (April 16), a first frost 21 days later (October 25), a season 54 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Magdalena usually arrives around November 30, and the last of the season around February 19. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Augustine 2E, NM, 15.1 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 56% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 89 days after the last snow.

ZIP 87825 is 15 miles from Augustine 2E, NM, which stands at 7,000 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87825 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.