Frost dates for Rio Rancho #2, NM
At Rio Rancho #2, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 8 and the median first fall frost is Nov 1, for a typical growing season of 203 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 28. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 7b.
- Apr 8Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 28Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 1First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 203 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 12 | Apr 26 | May 8 |
| 32°F | Mar 24 | Apr 8 | Apr 28 |
| 28°F | Mar 5 | Mar 20 | Apr 5 |
| 24°F | Feb 16 | Mar 6 | Mar 23 |
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 10 | Oct 22 | Nov 3 |
| 32°F | Oct 20 | Nov 1 | Nov 12 |
| 28°F | Oct 29 | Nov 9 | Nov 19 |
| 24°F | Nov 6 | Nov 19 | Dec 1 |
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 | 162 days | 180 days | 197 days |
| 32°F | 184 days | 203 days | 222 days |
| 28°F | 213 days | 233 days | 251 days |
| 24°F | 236 days | 257 days | 278 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87048 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 2 km |
| 87124 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 15 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 USC00297481, at 35.2522, -106.6347, elevation 1612 m (5,290 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 11 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 116.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Corrales (4 km)
- Rio Rancho #1 (4 km)
- Rio Grande Nature Center (14 km)
- Petroglyph National Mon (14 km)
- Placitas 4w (16 km)
- Jemez Dam (17 km)
- Albuquerque Foothills NE (18 km)
- Albuquerque Intl Airport (23 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.