Frost dates for Socorro, NM
At Socorro, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 16 and the median first fall frost is Oct 25, for a typical growing season of 191 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 1. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 7b.
- Apr 16Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 1Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 25First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 191 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 15 | Apr 29 | May 13 |
| 32°F | Mar 31 | Apr 16 | May 1 |
| 28°F | Mar 13 | Mar 31 | Apr 17 |
| 24°F | Feb 25 | Mar 14 | Apr 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 | Oct 2 | Oct 14 | Oct 27 |
| 32°F | Oct 11 | Oct 25 | Nov 5 |
| 28°F | Oct 21 | Nov 3 | Nov 15 |
| 24°F | Oct 29 | Nov 13 | Nov 27 |
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 | 147 days | 168 days | 185 days |
| 32°F | 169 days | 191 days | 210 days |
| 28°F | 195 days | 215 days | 236 days |
| 24°F | 216 days | 241 days | 266 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87823 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 15 km |
| 87828 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 16 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 USC00298387, at 34.0606, -106.8842, elevation 1400 m (4,593 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 21 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 126.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Bosque Del Apache (28 km)
- Socorro 20 N (33 km)
- Bernardo (40 km)
- Bingham 2 NE (52 km)
- Augustine 2e (68 km)
- Gran Quivira National Mon (76 km)
- Mountainair (77 km)
- Los Lunas 3 SSW (79 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.