Frost Dates for 88220 — Carlsbad, New Mexico

Half of springs at Carlsbad Cavern City Airport, NM see their last 32°F night by March 27; only one in ten is past it by March 7, and one in ten still has one after April 13. Planting tender crops after April 3 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 6 20%, and after April 13 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 7 in half of years, as early as October 26 one year in ten, and holds off past November 18 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 16; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 30, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 223 days in a typical year, longer than at 87% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 246 days one year in ten and falls short of 201 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 13 days longer, to about April 9, and return around October 29. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 80%.

July is the warmest month at Carlsbad Cavern City 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 36% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,623 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 99% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 42% of them (2,367) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,003. Precipitation totals 12.2 inches a year, most in September (2.6") and least in January (0.4"); May to September bring 70% of it.

The nearest other station, Artesia 6S, NM, 25 miles north of Carlsbad, has a last frost 15 days later (April 11), a first frost 9 days earlier (October 29), a season 25 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Carlsbad usually arrives around December 7, and the last of the season around February 2. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Carlsbad 3.4 N, NM, 4.4 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 87% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 53 days after the last snow.

ZIP 88220 is 6 miles from Carlsbad Cavern City Airport, NM, which stands at 3,232 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 88220 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.