White Harbor Labs › Frost Dates › States › New Mexico
Frost Dates in New Mexico
First and last frost dates across New Mexico, computed from 106 NOAA weather stations (1991–2020 climate normals). Your exact date depends on your city and microclimate — use the ZIP lookup on the main tool for a station-specific answer.
Last spring frost
Apr 30
statewide median · range Mar 12–Jun 18
First fall frost
Oct 17
statewide median · range Sep 8–Nov 15
Growing season
167 days
median · range 80–243
Stations used
106
NOAA 1991–2020 normals
Frost dates by city
Median dates from the nearest NOAA station to each city. The "cautious" date is the 10% spring value — planting after it means only a ~10% chance of a later frost.
| City | Nearest station | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Growing season | Safe transplant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | Albuquerque Intl Ap · 3 mi | Apr 6 (cautious: Apr 23) | Nov 3 | 208 days | Apr 20 |
| Santa Fe | Santa Fe 2 · 5 mi | May 14 (cautious: May 28) | Oct 6 | 144 days | May 28 |
| Las Cruces | State Univ · 2 mi | Mar 12 (cautious: Apr 2) | Nov 13 | 241 days | Mar 26 |
How frost varies across New Mexico
Spring frost timing spans about 98 days across the state. State Univ in southern New Mexico typically sees its last spring frost around March 12, while Angel Fire in northern New Mexico doesn't clear frost until about June 18. Within any city, low spots and valleys run colder than the station average; areas near buildings and pavement run warmer.
When to plant in New Mexico
As a rule of thumb, cool-season crops (lettuce, peas, spinach) can go in 2–4 weeks before your last spring frost; warm-season transplants (tomatoes, peppers) should wait about 2 weeks after it — around May 14 for the statewide median. Check your city's row above rather than the statewide median: a 98-day statewide spread makes the city-level date the one that matters.
These are climate normals (what's typical), not forecasts. For the current year, watch the 10-day forecast around your planting date.
How this is computed
Statewide medians are the median of the 106 NOAA stations' median frost dates — half the stations run earlier, half later. City rows use the nearest station with 30-year freeze records. Dates are 32°F freeze probabilities from NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals; nothing is estimated or interpolated.
More states
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost date in New Mexico?
The statewide median last spring frost is April 30, but it ranges from March 12 to June 18 depending on where in the state you are. Use your city's row in the table above, or the ZIP lookup on the main tool, for a station-specific date.
When can I plant tomatoes outside in New Mexico?
Warm-season transplants like tomatoes should wait about two weeks after your last spring frost — around May 14 for the statewide median. Your city may differ by weeks; check the "safe transplant" column in the city table.
How long is the growing season in New Mexico?
The median growing season across 106 NOAA stations is 167 days, ranging from 80 to 243 days by location.
Why do frost dates vary so much within New Mexico?
Frost timing follows latitude, elevation, and local terrain. Across New Mexico, last spring frost dates span about 98 days — from around March 12 near State Univ to June 18 near Angel Fire. Microclimates (low spots, valleys, urban heat) shift dates further at the garden level.
Where does this data come from?
All frost dates are computed from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals freeze data (public domain), using each station's 32°F freeze probability statistics. No dates are estimated or interpolated.