Frost dates for Los Alamos, NM
At Los Alamos, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 2 and the median first fall frost is Oct 12, for a typical growing season of 162 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 17. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 7a to 7b.
- May 2Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 17Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 12First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 162 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 30 | May 16 | May 31 |
| 32°F | Apr 19 | May 2 | May 17 |
| 28°F | Apr 6 | Apr 20 | May 4 |
| 24°F | Mar 20 | Apr 7 | Apr 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 | Sep 19 | Oct 4 | Oct 17 |
| 32°F | Oct 1 | Oct 12 | Oct 25 |
| 28°F | Oct 9 | Oct 23 | Nov 6 |
| 24°F | Oct 18 | Nov 1 | Nov 17 |
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 | 118 days | 140 days | 160 days |
| 32°F | 141 days | 162 days | 180 days |
| 28°F | 163 days | 182 days | 203 days |
| 24°F | 185 days | 206 days | 230 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87544 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 11 km |
| 87547 | 7b | 5 to 10°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 USC00295084, at 35.8644, -106.3214, elevation 2263 m (7,424 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 27 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 150.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Los Alamos 13 W (18 km)
- Cochiti Dam (25 km)
- Espanola (28 km)
- Jemez Springs (34 km)
- Santa Fe Co Muni Airport (35 km)
- Alcalde (35 km)
- Wolf Canyon (39 km)
- Santa Fe 2 (41 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.