Frost dates for Elk, NM
At Elk, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 7 and the median first fall frost is Oct 11, for a typical growing season of 155 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 19. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 7a to 7b.
- May 7Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 19Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 11First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 155 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
USDA hardiness zone 7a (0 to 5°F) · see all zone 7a frost dates
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 5 | May 18 | Jun 2 |
| 32°F | Apr 25 | May 7 | May 19 |
| 28°F | Apr 10 | Apr 27 | May 10 |
| 24°F | Mar 29 | Apr 14 | May 1 |
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 19 | Oct 1 | Oct 14 |
| 32°F | Sep 27 | Oct 11 | Oct 24 |
| 28°F | Oct 6 | Oct 22 | Nov 3 |
| 24°F | Oct 18 | Nov 2 | Nov 13 |
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 | 115 days | 135 days | 153 days |
| 32°F | 137 days | 155 days | 173 days |
| 28°F | 156 days | 176 days | 196 days |
| 24°F | 179 days | 201 days | 221 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88339 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 5 km |
| 88354 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 25 km |
| 88344 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 47 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 USC00292865, at 32.9161, -105.3381, elevation 1809 m (5,934 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 28 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 151.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Cloudcroft (37 km)
- Mountain Park (45 km)
- Picacho (52 km)
- Hope (57 km)
- Alamogordo (58 km)
- Ruidoso (59 km)
- Tularosa (68 km)
- Capitan (72 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.