Frost Dates for 88330 — Holloman Afb, New Mexico

Half of springs at White Sands Natl Mon, NM see their last 32°F night by April 22; only one in ten is past it by April 8, and one in ten still has one after May 5. Planting tender crops after April 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 30 20%, and after May 5 10%. The 13 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 80% of the 70 New Mexico stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 22 in half of years, as early as October 10 one year in ten, and holds off past November 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 31; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 24, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 183 days in a typical year, longer than at 59% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 201 days one year in ten and falls short of 164 one year in ten. On average 123 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 10 days longer, to about May 2, and return around October 15. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 26 and February 22.

July is the warmest month at White Sands Natl Mon, NM, averaging 97°F by day and 65°F at night; December is the coldest at 57°F and 22°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 19% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,904 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 80% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 40% of them (1,937) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 967. Precipitation totals 9.9 inches a year, most in August (1.9") and least in March (0.2"); May to September bring 63% of it.

The nearest other station, Alamogordo, NM, 9 miles northeast of Holloman Afb and 374 feet higher, has a last frost 44 days earlier (March 9), a first frost 27 days later (November 18), a season 68 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 9 of 19 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at White Sands Natl Mon, NM, 6.9 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 88330 is 7 miles from White Sands Natl Mon, NM, which stands at 4,006 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 88330 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.