Frost dates for Rio Grande Nature Center, NM
At Rio Grande Nature Center, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 23 and the median first fall frost is Oct 20, for a typical growing season of 179 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 6. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 7b.
- Apr 23Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 6Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 20First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 179 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 23 | May 5 | May 18 |
| 32°F | Apr 7 | Apr 23 | May 6 |
| 28°F | Mar 19 | Apr 5 | Apr 21 |
| 24°F | Mar 1 | Mar 15 | Apr 4 |
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 28 | Oct 10 | Oct 22 |
| 32°F | Oct 8 | Oct 20 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F | Oct 17 | Oct 31 | Nov 13 |
| 24°F | Oct 28 | Nov 9 | Nov 22 |
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 | 139 days | 156 days | 174 days |
| 32°F | 161 days | 179 days | 199 days |
| 28°F | 186 days | 206 days | 228 days |
| 24°F | 212 days | 236 days | 256 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87104 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 3 km |
| 87107 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 4 km |
| 87101 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 5 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 USC00297461, at 35.1303, -106.6831, elevation 1507 m (4,944 ft).
- Data quality: Estimated from nearby stations (2+ years), 4 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 125.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Petroglyph National Mon (3 km)
- Albuquerque Intl Airport (12 km)
- Albuquerque Valley (12 km)
- Rio Rancho #2 (14 km)
- Corrales (15 km)
- Albuquerque Foothills NE (17 km)
- Rio Rancho #1 (18 km)
- Placitas 4w (28 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.