Frost dates for Carlsbad Cavern City Airport, NM
At Carlsbad Cavern City Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 27 and the median first fall frost is Nov 7, for a typical growing season of 223 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 13. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8a.
- Mar 27Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 13Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 7First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 223 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 24 | Apr 9 | Apr 26 |
| 32°F | Mar 7 | Mar 27 | Apr 13 |
| 28°F | Feb 20 | Mar 9 | Mar 30 |
| 24°F | Feb 2 | Feb 25 | Mar 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 18 | Oct 29 | Nov 9 |
| 32°F | Oct 26 | Nov 7 | Nov 18 |
| 28°F | Nov 2 | Nov 16 | Nov 27 |
| 24°F | Nov 10 | Nov 25 | Dec 10 |
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 | 181 days | 201 days | 220 days |
| 32°F | 201 days | 223 days | 246 days |
| 28°F | 225 days | 249 days | 270 days |
| 24°F | 249 days | 274 days | 300 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88220 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 15 km |
| 88268 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 21 km |
| 88263 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 29 km |
| 88254 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 35 km |
| 88256 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 38 km |
| 88210 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 49 km |
| 88255 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 58 km |
| 79770 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 62 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 USW00093033, at 32.3336, -104.2581, elevation 985 m (3,232 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 27 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 69.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Carlsbad (4 km)
- Brantley Dam (23 km)
- Carlsbad Caverns (25 km)
- Dark Canyon Road (25 km)
- Waste Isolt'n Pilot Plant (43 km)
- Artesia 6s (48 km)
- Hope (69 km)
- Ochoa (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.