Frost dates for Ruidoso, NM
At Ruidoso, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 11 and the median first fall frost is Oct 5, for a typical growing season of 147 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 22. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 7a.
- May 11Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 22Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 5First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 147 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 | May 11 | May 23 | Jun 5 |
| 32°F | Apr 30 | May 11 | May 22 |
| 28°F | Apr 15 | Apr 30 | May 11 |
| 24°F | Apr 1 | Apr 16 | May 2 |
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 12 | Sep 26 | Oct 6 |
| 32°F | Sep 24 | Oct 5 | Oct 20 |
| 28°F | Oct 3 | Oct 17 | Nov 1 |
| 24°F | Oct 13 | Oct 29 | Nov 9 |
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 | 104 days | 123 days | 140 days |
| 32°F | 129 days | 147 days | 165 days |
| 28°F | 151 days | 170 days | 190 days |
| 24°F | 173 days | 193 days | 213 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88355 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 1 km |
| 88345 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 2 km |
| 88312 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 7 km |
| 88346 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 11 km |
| 88340 | 7a | 0 to 5°F | 23 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 USC00297649, at 33.3678, -105.6611, elevation 2112 m (6,930 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 13 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 156.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Capitan (19 km)
- Carrizozo 1sw (36 km)
- Cloudcroft (46 km)
- Tularosa (48 km)
- Mountain Park (48 km)
- Picacho (48 km)
- Alamogordo (57 km)
- Elk (59 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.