Frost Dates for 88242 — Hobbs, New Mexico

Half of springs at Hobbs, NM see their last 32°F night by March 28; only one in ten is past it by March 9, and one in ten still has one after April 13. Planting tender crops after April 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 7 20%, and after April 13 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 56% of the 70 New Mexico stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 10 in half of years, as early as October 27 one year in ten, and holds off past November 22 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 19; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 1, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 225 days in a typical year, longer than at 91% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 249 days one year in ten and falls short of 204 one year in ten. On average 72 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 12 days longer, to about April 9, and return around November 1. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 79%.

July is the warmest month at Hobbs, NM, averaging 94°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 55°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 41% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,298 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 86% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 41% of them (2,170) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 973. Precipitation totals 13.8 inches a year, most in September (2.5") and least in January (0.5"); May to September bring 69% of it.

The nearest other station, Hobbs 13W, NM, 13 miles southwest of Hobbs and 176 feet higher, has the same 50% last-frost date, a first frost 3 days later (November 13), a season 5 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 8 of 25 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Hobbs, NM, 4.3 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 88242 is 4 miles from Hobbs, NM, which stands at 3,660 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 88240 (Hobbs). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 88242 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.