Frost Dates for 88260 — Lovington, New Mexico

Half of springs at Hobbs 13W, NM see their last 32°F night by March 28; only one in ten is past it by March 5, and one in ten still has one after April 15. Planting tender crops after April 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 8 20%, and after April 15 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 80% of the 70 New Mexico stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 13 in half of years, as early as October 30 one year in ten, and holds off past November 28 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 23; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 2, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 230 days in a typical year, longer than at 93% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 256 days one year in ten and falls short of 202 one year in ten. On average 64 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 10, and return around November 3. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 70%.

July is the warmest month at Hobbs 13W, NM, averaging 92°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 58°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 39% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,429 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 90% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 41% of them (2,236) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 930. Precipitation totals 14.8 inches a year, most in July (2.5") and least in January (0.5"); May to September bring 68% of it.

The nearest other station, Hobbs, NM, 22 miles southeast of Lovington and 176 feet lower, has the same 50% last-frost date, a first frost 3 days earlier (November 10), a season 5 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 7 of 16 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Hobbs 13W, NM, 14.1 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 88260 is 14 miles from Hobbs 13W, NM, which stands at 3,836 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 88260 in zone 7b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.