Frost Dates for 88210 — Artesia, New Mexico

Half of springs at Artesia 6S, NM see their last 32°F night by April 11; only one in ten is past it by March 27, and one in ten still has one after April 26. Planting tender crops after April 18 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 22 20%, and after April 26 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 46% of the 70 New Mexico stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 29 in half of years, as early as October 16 one year in ten, and holds off past November 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 7 days later, around November 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 17, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 198 days in a typical year, longer than at 76% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 218 days one year in ten and falls short of 179 one year in ten. On average 111 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 11 days longer, to about April 22, and return around October 20. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 6 and February 7.

July is the warmest month at Artesia 6S, NM, averaging 95°F by day and 66°F at night; January is the coldest at 58°F and 23°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 83% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,922 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 83% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 40% of them (1,978) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 946. Precipitation totals 12.1 inches a year, most in September (1.9") and least in February (0.4"); May to September bring 64% of it.

The nearest other station, Carlsbad Cavern City Airport, NM, 33 miles south of Artesia, has a last frost 15 days earlier (March 27), a first frost 9 days later (November 7), a season 25 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Artesia usually arrives around December 21, and the last of the season around January 23. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Artesia 6S, NM, 2.8 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 82% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 78 days after the last snow.

ZIP 88210 is 3 miles from Artesia 6S, NM, which stands at 3,366 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 88210 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.