Frost Dates for 87937 — Hatch, New Mexico

Half of springs at Caballo Dam, NM see their last 32°F night by March 25; only one in ten is past it by March 5, and one in ten still has one after April 17. Planting tender crops after April 3 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 8 20%, and after April 17 10%. The 23 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is the widest of the 70 New Mexico stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so a fixed calendar date is a gamble here.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 6 in half of years, as early as October 24 one year in ten, and holds off past November 21 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 18; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 28, 20 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 224 days in a typical year, longer than at 90% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 248 days one year in ten and falls short of 199 one year in ten. On average 90 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 20 days longer, to about April 14, and return around October 28. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 71%.

July is the warmest month at Caballo Dam, NM, averaging 98°F by day and 69°F at night; December is the coldest at 58°F and 29°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 34% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,472 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 93% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 40% of them (2,175) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,031. Precipitation totals 10.7 inches a year, most in August (2.0") and least in March (0.3"); May to September bring 64% of it.

The nearest other station, State Univ, NM, 33 miles southeast of Hatch and 353 feet lower, has a last frost 13 days earlier (March 12), a first frost 7 days later (November 13), a season 17 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 3 of 26 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Caballo Dam, NM, 21.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 87937 is 22 miles from Caballo Dam, NM, which stands at 4,239 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 87937 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.