U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USW00023050 · New Mexico

Frost Dates for Albuquerque, NM

NOAA weather station Albuquerque International Airport (USW00023050), New Mexico · elevation 5310 ft (1619 m) · hardiness zone 8a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 23only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 650% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 350% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season208 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone8acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Albuquerque, NMSpring: a frost after March 17 in 9 years out of 10, after April 6 in half of the years, after April 23 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 21 in 1 year out of 10, before November 3 in half of the years, before November 16 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 208 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 6First frost ~Nov 3Frost season at Albuquerque, NMSpring: a frost after March 17 in 9 years out of 10, after April 6 in half of the years, after April 23 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 21 in 1 year out of 10, before November 3 in half of the years, before November 16 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 208 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 6First frost ~Nov 3
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 26 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 23October 21
50% (typical)April 6November 3
90% (likely)March 17November 16
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
208 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 17
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 15

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 10 (4 days later than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 5 (2 days later). Frost-free season 208 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at Albuquerque: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 23, 20% April 17, 30% April 12, 40% April 9, 50% April 6, 60% April 3, 70% March 31, 80% March 25, 90% March 17. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 March 25, 2022 March 23, 2023 April 6, 2024 April 7, 2025 April 6, 2026 March 16.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1Apr 23Apr 6Mar 172021: March 252022: March 232023: April 62024: April 72025: April 62026: March 16Fall at Albuquerque: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 21, 20% October 25, 30% October 29, 40% November 1, 50% November 3, 60% November 6, 70% November 9, 80% November 13, 90% November 16. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 18, 2022 October 25, 2023 October 29, 2024 October 31, 2025 November 30.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Oct 21Nov 3Nov 162021: November 182022: October 252023: October 292024: October 312025: November 30
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there. ◆ marks the actual date in each recent year.

What actually happened in recent years

Observed dates of the last spring and first fall frost (32°F) at this station; ◆ marks them on the charts above
YearLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2021March 25November 18
2022March 23October 25
2023April 6October 29
2024April 7October 31
2025April 6November 30
2026March 16season not over yet

What these dates mean

Setting out tender crops on March 17 carries a 90% chance of a frost later that spring, so it is a gamble for Albuquerque gardeners.

The 50% date is April 6, marking equal odds of a frost later, while the 50% hard-frost date is March 17, marking equal odds of a hard frost later. In the fall, the 50% date is November 3 and the 50% hard-frost date is November 15, each indicating an even chance of a frost earlier.

The cautious spring date for tender crops is April 23, when only a 10% chance of a light frost remains later, and the cautious fall date to finish tender crops is October 21, with only a 10% chance that a light frost has already arrived. Hard frost matters more than light frost because the lower 28 °F temperature can cause more severe damage.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after April 23" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before October 21" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near Albuquerque, NMNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Albuquerque Valley, NM — 5 mi; 2 — Santa Fe, NM — 54 mi; 3 — Los Alamos, NM — 59 mi; 4 — Torreon Navajo Mission, NM — 61 mi; 5 — Gran Quivira National Monument, NM — 62 mi.50 mi · 80 km1. Albuquerque Valley, NM — 5 mi12. Santa Fe, NM — 54 mi23. Los Alamos, NM — 59 mi34. Torreon Navajo Mission, NM — 61 mi45. Gran Quivira National Monument, NM — 62 mi5
  1. Albuquerque Valley, NM 5 mi (7 km)
  2. Santa Fe, NM 54 mi (87 km)
  3. Los Alamos, NM 59 mi (95 km)
  4. Torreon Navajo Mission, NM 61 mi (99 km)
  5. Gran Quivira National Monument, NM 62 mi (99 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 8a: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 35.0419, -106.6156.