Frost dates for Jornada Exp. Range, NM
At Jornada Exp. Range, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 27 and the median first fall frost is Oct 23, for a typical growing season of 178 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 9. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 7b to 8b.
- Apr 27Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 9Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 23First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 178 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 | Apr 26 | May 7 | May 21 |
| 32°F | Apr 13 | Apr 27 | May 9 |
| 28°F | Mar 28 | Apr 13 | Apr 29 |
| 24°F | Mar 7 | Mar 28 | Apr 14 |
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 3 | Oct 15 | Oct 27 |
| 32°F | Oct 10 | Oct 23 | Nov 5 |
| 28°F | Oct 16 | Nov 1 | Nov 13 |
| 24°F | Oct 23 | Nov 9 | Nov 24 |
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 | 142 days | 159 days | 176 days |
| 32°F | 160 days | 178 days | 196 days |
| 28°F | 178 days | 199 days | 220 days |
| 24°F | 201 days | 223 days | 248 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
Closest ZIP codes (each is closer to another station)
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88012 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 4 km |
| 88052 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 23 km |
| 87940 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 25 km |
| 88011 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 31 km |
| 88007 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 33 km |
| 88001 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 36 km |
| 88002 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 37 km |
| 88003 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 38 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 USC00294426, at 32.6161, -106.7403, elevation 1316 m (4,318 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 23 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 128.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Las Cruces 20 N (0 km)
- State Univ (37 km)
- White Sands National Mon (56 km)
- Caballo Dam (62 km)
- Orogrande (66 km)
- Elephant Butte Dam (72 km)
- Truth Or Consequences (74 km)
- Alamogordo (81 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.