Frost dates for Carlsbad Caverns, NM
At Carlsbad Caverns, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 2 and the median first fall frost is Nov 11, for a typical growing season of 223 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 20. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8a.
- Apr 2Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 20Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 11First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 223 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
USDA hardiness zone 8a (10 to 15°F) · see all zone 8a frost dates
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 26 | Apr 13 | May 1 |
| 32°F | Mar 9 | Apr 2 | Apr 20 |
| 28°F | Feb 18 | Mar 16 | Apr 6 |
| 24°F | Jan 27 | Feb 26 | Mar 22 |
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 12 | Nov 1 | Nov 17 |
| 32°F | Oct 22 | Nov 11 | Nov 29 |
| 28°F | Nov 4 | Nov 22 | Dec 11 |
| 24°F | Nov 13 | Dec 3 | Dec 29 |
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 | 175 days | 201 days | 226 days |
| 32°F | 197 days | 223 days | 253 days |
| 28°F | 222 days | 251 days | 281 days |
| 24°F | 249 days | 283 days | 319 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88268 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 6 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 USC00291480, at 32.1783, -104.4433, elevation 1352 m (4,435 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 20 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 43.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Dark Canyon Road (13 km)
- Carlsbad Cavern City Airport (25 km)
- Carlsbad (28 km)
- Brantley Dam (38 km)
- Artesia 6S (64 km)
- Waste Isolt'n Pilot Plant (65 km)
- Hope (75 km)
- Ochoa (96 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.