Frost dates for Waste Isolt'n Pilot Plant, NM
At Waste Isolt'n Pilot Plant, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 6 and the median first fall frost is Nov 2, for a typical growing season of 210 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 26. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8a.
- Apr 6Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 26Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 2First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 210 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 1 | Apr 19 | May 4 |
| 32°F | Mar 16 | Apr 6 | Apr 26 |
| 28°F | Feb 28 | Mar 21 | Apr 14 |
| 24°F | Feb 13 | Mar 6 | Mar 30 |
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 10 | Oct 25 | Nov 6 |
| 32°F | Oct 20 | Nov 2 | Nov 16 |
| 28°F | Oct 29 | Nov 11 | Nov 26 |
| 24°F | Nov 5 | Nov 22 | Dec 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 | 168 days | 188 days | 209 days |
| 32°F | 186 days | 210 days | 233 days |
| 28°F | 207 days | 235 days | 261 days |
| 24°F | 233 days | 260 days | 287 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 88256 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 22 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 USC00299569, at 32.3778, -103.7986, elevation 1040 m (3,411 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 27 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 71.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Carlsbad (40 km)
- Ochoa (42 km)
- Carlsbad Cavern City Airport (43 km)
- Hobbs 13w (56 km)
- Brantley Dam (57 km)
- Carlsbad Caverns (65 km)
- Jal (65 km)
- Dark Canyon Road (68 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.