Frost Dates for 88317 — Cloudcroft, New Mexico

Half of springs at Cloudcroft, NM see their last 32°F night by May 18; only one in ten is past it by May 7, and one in ten still has one after June 1. Planting tender crops after May 23 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 27 20%, and after June 1 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 66% of the 70 New Mexico stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 1 in half of years, as early as September 18 one year in ten, and holds off past October 14 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 13; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 16, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 134 days in a typical year, shorter than at 87% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 152 days one year in ten and falls short of 114 one year in ten. On average 172 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 14 days longer, to about June 1, and return around September 19. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 16 and March 23.

July is the warmest month at Cloudcroft, NM, averaging 72°F by day and 48°F at night; January is the coldest at 42°F and 19°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to May (a 90% chance or more). From July to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, June still brings one in 11% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 1,187 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), the fewest of the 70 New Mexico stations. 34% of them (409) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 313. Precipitation totals 28.5 inches a year, most in July (5.5") and least in April (0.9"); May to September bring 60% of it.

The nearest other station, Alamogordo, NM, 16 miles west of Cloudcroft and 4,299 feet lower, has a last frost 70 days earlier (March 9), a first frost 48 days later (November 18), a season 117 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Cloudcroft usually arrives around October 28, and the last of the season around April 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Cloudcroft, NM, 3 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 42 days after the last snow.

ZIP 88317 is 3 miles from Cloudcroft, NM, which stands at 8,679 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 88340 (Mescalero). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 88317 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.