Frost dates for Carlsbad, NM
At Carlsbad, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 17 and the median first fall frost is Nov 12, for a typical growing season of 238 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 5. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8a.
- Mar 17Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 5Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 12First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 238 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 15 | Apr 3 | Apr 21 |
| 32°F | Feb 28 | Mar 17 | Apr 5 |
| 28°F | Feb 10 | Mar 2 | Mar 22 |
| 24°F | Jan 23 | Feb 14 | Mar 9 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 22 | Nov 3 | Nov 15 |
| 32°F | Oct 29 | Nov 12 | Nov 26 |
| 28°F | Nov 7 | Nov 23 | Dec 7 |
| 24°F | Nov 17 | Dec 4 | Dec 23 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 190 days | 213 days | 235 days |
| 32°F | 215 days | 238 days | 261 days |
| 28°F | 239 days | 265 days | 288 days |
| 24°F | 263 days | 292 days | 324 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88263 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 29 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00291469, at 32.3478, -104.2225, elevation 951 m (3,120 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 26 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 75.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Carlsbad Cavern City Airport (4 km)
- Brantley Dam (24 km)
- Carlsbad Caverns (28 km)
- Dark Canyon Road (28 km)
- Waste Isolt'n Pilot Plant (40 km)
- Artesia 6s (48 km)
- Hope (70 km)
- Ochoa (78 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.