Frost Dates for 88415 — Clayton, New Mexico

Half of springs at Clayton 1 N, NM see their last 32°F night by May 4; only one in ten is past it by April 21, and one in ten still has one after May 19. Planting tender crops after May 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 14 20%, and after May 19 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 46% of the 70 New Mexico stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 11 in half of years, as early as September 30 one year in ten, and holds off past October 22 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 8, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 159 days in a typical year, shorter than at 60% of the 70 New Mexico stations; it reaches 177 days one year in ten and falls short of 140 one year in ten. On average 141 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 11 days longer, to about May 15, and return around October 3. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 13 and March 15.

July is the warmest month at Clayton 1 N, NM, averaging 90°F by day and 58°F at night; January is the coldest at 50°F and 18°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 61% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,256 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 56% of the 70 New Mexico stations. 35% of them (1,131) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 742. Precipitation totals 18.0 inches a year, most in July (3.3") and least in February (0.3"); May to September bring 69% of it.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Clayton usually arrives around November 15, and the last of the season around March 25. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Clayton 1 N, NM, 5.1 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 40 days after the last snow.

ZIP 88415 is 5 miles from Clayton 1 N, NM, which stands at 5,000 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 88415 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.