Frost Dates for 87901 — Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico

Half of springs at Elephant Butte Dam, NM see their last 32°F night by March 13; only one in ten is past it by February 26, and one in ten still has one after April 2. Planting tender crops after March 23 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 28 20%, and after April 2 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 93% of the 70 New Mexico stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 15 in half of years, as early as November 1 one year in ten, and holds off past November 28 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 26; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 21, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 243 days in a typical year, longer than at 97% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 265 days one year in ten and falls short of 218 one year in ten. On average 69 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 17 days longer, to about March 30, and return around November 5. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 43%.

July is the warmest month at Elephant Butte Dam, NM, averaging 96°F by day and 70°F at night; December is the coldest at 56°F and 30°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 85% of years and April still brings one in 12% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,574 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 94% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 41% of them (2,266) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,022. Precipitation totals 9.9 inches a year, most in July (2.2") and least in February (0.3"); May to September bring 66% of it.

The nearest other station, Caballo Dam, NM, 19 miles south of Truth Or Consequences and 332 feet lower, has a last frost 12 days later (March 25), a first frost 9 days earlier (November 6), a season 19 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 5 of 26 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Elephant Butte Dam, NM, 0.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 87901 is under a mile from Elephant Butte Dam, NM, which stands at 4,571 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87901 in zone 8a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.