USDA Hardiness Zone 8a
Frost Dates for 88021 — Anthony, New Mexico
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from La Tuna 1 S, TX (3,870 ft), 4 miles southwest.
Updated
In Anthony, the last spring frost (32°F) is around February 28 in half of years and has passed by March 17 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 20, as early as November 5 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 264 days (NOAA, La Tuna 1 S, TX).
- Last spring frost
- February 28
- First fall frost
- November 20
- Growing season
- 264 days
- Hardiness zone
- 8a
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night
- First snow
- Rare
- Last snow
- Rare
- Winters with snow
- 0%
- Snow per year
- 0"
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
0 of 18 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Anthony
Half of springs at La Tuna 1 S, TX see their last 32°F night by February 28; only one in ten is past it by February 7, and one in ten still has one after March 17. Planting tender crops after March 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 11 20%, and after March 17 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 20 in half of years, as early as November 5 one year in ten, and holds off past December 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around December 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 4, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 264 days in a typical year, the longest of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 288 days one year in ten and falls short of 240 one year in ten. On average 53 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 16 days longer, to about March 16, and return around November 10. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 95% of winters and 16°F in 15%.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Feb 28 | Mar 5 | Mar 9 | Mar 13 | Mar 16 | Mar 21 | Mar 27 | Apr 1 | Apr 8 |
| 32°F | Feb 7 | Feb 15 | Feb 20 | Feb 25 | Feb 28 | Mar 4 | Mar 7 | Mar 11 | Mar 17 |
| 28°F | Jan 19 | Jan 27 | Feb 1 | Feb 5 | Feb 10 | Feb 15 | Feb 19 | Feb 26 | Mar 4 |
| 24°F95% of yrs | Dec 24 | Jan 2 | Jan 10 | Jan 17 | Jan 23 | Jan 28 | Feb 1 | Feb 6 | Feb 15 |
| 20°F51% of yrs | Dec 12 | Dec 20 | Dec 28 | Jan 2 | Jan 6 | Jan 13 | Jan 20 | Jan 29 | Feb 4 |
| 16°F15% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 28 | Nov 2 | Nov 5 | Nov 7 | Nov 10 | Nov 13 | Nov 15 | Nov 18 | Nov 23 |
| 32°F | Nov 5 | Nov 11 | Nov 14 | Nov 17 | Nov 20 | Nov 22 | Nov 25 | Nov 28 | Dec 3 |
| 28°F | Nov 17 | Nov 21 | Nov 25 | Nov 28 | Dec 1 | Dec 4 | Dec 7 | Dec 12 | Dec 18 |
| 24°F95% of yrs | Nov 29 | Dec 4 | Dec 7 | Dec 12 | Dec 16 | Dec 21 | Dec 26 | Jan 2 | Jan 11 |
| 20°F51% of yrs | Dec 7 | Dec 13 | Dec 18 | Dec 23 | Dec 28 | Jan 1 | Jan 6 | Jan 15 | Jan 29 |
| 16°F15% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at La Tuna 1 S, TX, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.
Frost risk on any date in 88021 →Compare Anthony with another place →
Weather by month in Anthony
July is the warmest month at La Tuna 1 S, TX, averaging 94°F by day and 73°F at night; December is the coldest at 56°F and 34°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 49% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 6,001 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), the most of the 70 New Mexico stations. 42% of them (2,507) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,042. Precipitation totals 9.0 inches a year, most in July (2.4") and least in April (0.0"); May to September bring 71% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57 | 34 | 0.5 | 100% | 18 | 22 |
| Feb | 63 | 39 | 0.3 | 94% | 8 | 76 |
| Mar | 70 | 45 | 0.2 | 49% | 3 | 244 |
| Apr | 79 | 51 | 0.0 | 2% | <1 | 445 |
| May | 88 | 61 | 0.3 | 0% | 0 | 747 |
| Jun | 95 | 70 | 0.7 | 0% | 0 | 973 |
| Jul | 94 | 73 | 2.4 | 0% | 0 | 1042 |
| Aug | 92 | 72 | 1.6 | 0% | 0 | 987 |
| Sep | 87 | 66 | 1.4 | 0% | 0 | 795 |
| Oct | 78 | 54 | 0.7 | 4% | 1 | 500 |
| Nov | 66 | 41 | 0.4 | 84% | 7 | 147 |
| Dec | 56 | 34 | 0.5 | 100% | 18 | 23 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at La Tuna 1 S, TX (3,870 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.
Compared with the next station
The nearest other station, Santa Teresa Airport, NM, 13 miles southwest of Anthony and 239 feet higher, has a last frost 23 days later (March 23), a first frost 9 days earlier (November 11), a season 33 days shorter.
When it snows in Anthony, New Mexico
Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 18 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at La Tuna 1 S, TX, 3.5 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.
Planting calendar for 88021
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| December 20 – January 3 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| January 3 – January 17 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| January 31 – February 14 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| February 28 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 28 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by November 6 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| November 20 onward | Plant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter. |
The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.
Where these figures come from
ZIP 88021 is 4 miles from La Tuna 1 S, TX, which stands at 3,870 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 88081 (Chaparral). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 88021 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.
Frost dates across New Mexico →
Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.
Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.