Frost dates for El Rito, NM
At El Rito, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 15 and the median first fall frost is Oct 7, for a typical growing season of 143 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 4. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 6b to 7a.
- May 15Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 4Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 7First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 143 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 | May 13 | May 31 | Jun 16 |
| 32°F | Apr 30 | May 15 | Jun 4 |
| 28°F | Apr 18 | May 2 | May 20 |
| 24°F | Apr 5 | Apr 20 | May 8 |
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 | Sep 16 | Sep 29 | Oct 10 |
| 32°F | Sep 23 | Oct 7 | Oct 18 |
| 28°F | Oct 2 | Oct 15 | Oct 30 |
| 24°F | Oct 12 | Oct 25 | Nov 8 |
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 | 99 days | 119 days | 142 days |
| 32°F | 117 days | 143 days | 163 days |
| 28°F | 143 days | 165 days | 185 days |
| 24°F | 166 days | 186 days | 207 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87530 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 1 km |
| 87581 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 18 km |
| 87539 | 6b | -5 to 0°F | 19 km |
| 87549 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 21 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 USC00292820, at 36.3467, -106.1878, elevation 2094 m (6,870 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 16 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 167.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Abiquiu Dam (25 km)
- Alcalde (31 km)
- Tres Piedras (39 km)
- Espanola (40 km)
- Brazos Lodge (50 km)
- Taos (54 km)
- Los Alamos (55 km)
- El Vado Dam (56 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.