Frost dates for Tatum, NM
At Tatum, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 19 and the median first fall frost is Oct 26, for a typical growing season of 188 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 2. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 7b.
- Apr 19Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 2Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 26First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 188 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 15 | Apr 28 | May 9 |
| 32°F | Apr 3 | Apr 19 | May 2 |
| 28°F | Mar 21 | Apr 8 | Apr 24 |
| 24°F | Mar 4 | Mar 26 | Apr 16 |
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 18 | Oct 28 |
| 32°F | Oct 12 | Oct 26 | Nov 6 |
| 28°F | Oct 22 | Nov 4 | Nov 16 |
| 24°F | Oct 31 | Nov 13 | Nov 28 |
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 | 153 days | 171 days | 189 days |
| 32°F | 169 days | 188 days | 208 days |
| 28°F | 188 days | 209 days | 232 days |
| 24°F | 207 days | 232 days | 255 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88267 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 7 km |
| 88262 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 13 km |
| 88260 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 28 km |
| 88114 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 28 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 USC00298713, at 33.2422, -103.3611, elevation 1223 m (4,012 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 20 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 114.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Caprock (32 km)
- Hobbs 13w (59 km)
- Hobbs (61 km)
- Elida (82 km)
- Arch (98 km)
- Bitter Lakes Wl Refuge (100 km)
- Portales (104 km)
- Waste Isolt'n Pilot Plant (104 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.