Frost dates for Alamogordo, NM
At Alamogordo, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 9 and the median first fall frost is Nov 18, for a typical growing season of 251 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Mar 31. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8a.
- Mar 9Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Mar 31Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 18First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 251 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 | Mar 8 | Mar 25 | Apr 10 |
| 32°F | Feb 18 | Mar 9 | Mar 31 |
| 28°F | Jan 26 | Feb 18 | Mar 17 |
| 24°F | Dec 30 | Jan 29 | Mar 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 | Oct 25 | Nov 8 | Nov 21 |
| 32°F | Nov 3 | Nov 18 | Dec 3 |
| 28°F | Nov 14 | Nov 29 | Dec 14 |
| 24°F | Nov 24 | Dec 10 | Jan 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 | 201 days | 224 days | 247 days |
| 32°F | 224 days | 251 days | 274 days |
| 28°F | 252 days | 280 days | 310 days |
| 24°F | 280 days | 316 days | 346 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 98% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88311 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 12 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 USC00290199, at 32.9181, -105.9550, elevation 1335 m (4,380 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 12 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 55.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Mountain Park (13 km)
- Tularosa (19 km)
- Cloudcroft (21 km)
- White Sands National Mon (26 km)
- Ruidoso (57 km)
- Elk (58 km)
- Orogrande (61 km)
- Capitan (76 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.