Frost Dates for 88007 — Las Cruces, New Mexico

Half of springs at State Univ, NM see their last 32°F night by March 12; only one in ten is past it by February 23, and one in ten still has one after April 2. Planting tender crops after March 20 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 26 20%, and after April 2 10%. The 21 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 96% 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 13 in half of years, as early as October 30 one year in ten, and holds off past November 24 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 24; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 15, 18 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 241 days in a typical year, longer than at 96% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 262 days one year in ten and falls short of 216 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 20 days longer, to about April 1, and return around November 4. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 28%.

July is the warmest month at State Univ, NM, averaging 96°F by day and 69°F at night; December is the coldest at 58°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 September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 77% of years and April still brings one in 12% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,425 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 89% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 40% of them (2,157) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,003. Precipitation totals 9.2 inches a year, most in July (1.8") and least in April (0.2"); May to September bring 65% of it.

The nearest other station, La Tuna 1 S, TX, 29 miles southeast of Las Cruces, has a last frost 12 days earlier (February 28), a first frost 7 days later (November 20), a season 23 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Las Cruces usually arrives around January 1, and the last of the season around January 4. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Las Cruces 0.8 WNW, NM, 3.7 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 67% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 67 days after the last snow.

ZIP 88007 is 7 miles from State Univ, NM, which stands at 3,886 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 6 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 88001 (Las Cruces). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 88007 in zone 8b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.