Frost Dates for 88008 — Santa Teresa, New Mexico

Half of springs at Santa Teresa Airport, NM see their last 32°F night by March 23; only one in ten is past it by March 3, and one in ten still has one after April 9. Planting tender crops after March 31 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 3 20%, and after April 9 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 66% of the 70 New Mexico stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 11 in half of years, as early as October 29 one year in ten, and holds off past November 23 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around November 19; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 25, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 231 days in a typical year, longer than at 94% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 256 days one year in ten and falls short of 209 one year in ten. On average 65 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 14 days longer, to about April 6, and return around November 2. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 61%.

July is the warmest month at Santa Teresa Airport, NM, averaging 95°F by day and 69°F at night; December is the coldest at 57°F and 30°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 28% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,454 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 91% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 40% of them (2,206) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 983. Precipitation totals 10.2 inches a year, most in July (2.3") and least in April (0.2"); May to September bring 66% of it.

The nearest other station, La Tuna 1 S, TX, 10 miles northeast of Santa Teresa and 239 feet lower, has a last frost 23 days earlier (February 28), a first frost 9 days later (November 20), a season 33 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Santa Teresa usually arrives around December 25, and the last of the season around January 3. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Santa Teresa Airport, NM, 1.2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 78% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 79 days after the last snow.

ZIP 88008 is 1 mile from Santa Teresa Airport, NM, which stands at 4,109 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 79912 (El Paso). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 88008 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.