U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00290231 · New Mexico

Frost Dates for Albuquerque Valley, NM

NOAA weather station Albuquerque Valley (USC00290231), New Mexico · elevation 4955 ft (1510 m) · hardiness zone 7b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter May 3only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 1850% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 2450% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season189 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone7bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Albuquerque Valley, NMSpring: a frost after April 1 in 9 years out of 10, after April 18 in half of the years, after May 3 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 13 in 1 year out of 10, before October 24 in half of the years, before November 4 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 189 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 18First frost ~Oct 24Frost season at Albuquerque Valley, NMSpring: a frost after April 1 in 9 years out of 10, after April 18 in half of the years, after May 3 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 13 in 1 year out of 10, before October 24 in half of the years, before November 4 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 189 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 18First frost ~Oct 24
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 29 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)May 3October 13
50% (typical)April 18October 24
90% (likely)April 1November 4
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
189 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 31
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 2

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 19 (1 day later than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 25 (1 day later). Frost-free season 190 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 Valley: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% May 3, 20% April 28, 30% April 24, 40% April 21, 50% April 18, 60% April 14, 70% April 10, 80% April 6, 90% April 1. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 19.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Apr 1May 1May 3Apr 18Apr 12021: April 19Fall at Albuquerque Valley: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 13, 20% October 17, 30% October 20, 40% October 22, 50% October 24, 60% October 27, 70% October 29, 80% November 1, 90% November 4. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 October 13.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Nov 1Oct 13Oct 24Nov 42021: October 13
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
2021April 19October 13
2022no datano data
2023no datano data
2024no datano data
2025no datano data
2026no dataseason not over yet

What these dates mean

The cautious fall date for finishing the harvest in Albuquerque Valley is October 13, when there is only a 10 % chance a light frost has arrived.

In spring, the cautious date for setting out tender crops is May 3, the point at which a light frost remains unlikely (10 % chance). The 50% date of April 18 marks the point at which there is a 50 % chance of a light frost later in the season; the hard-frost 50% date of March 31 marks when a 28 °F frost is equally probable.

For fall, the 50% date of October 24 marks the point at which there is a 50 % chance of a light frost earlier, while the hard-frost 50% date of November 2 shows when a 28 °F event is as likely as not. Because a hard frost at 28 °F can damage or kill plant tissue that survives a 32 °F light frost, it is a more critical threshold for tender crops.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after May 3" 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 13" 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 Valley, NMNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Albuquerque, NM — 5 mi; 2 — Santa Fe, NM — 58 mi; 3 — Torreon Navajo Mission, NM — 60 mi; 4 — Los Alamos, NM — 62 mi; 5 — Gran Quivira National Monument, NM — 63 mi.50 mi · 80 km1. Albuquerque, NM — 5 mi12. Santa Fe, NM — 58 mi23. Torreon Navajo Mission, NM — 60 mi34. Los Alamos, NM — 62 mi45. Gran Quivira National Monument, NM — 63 mi5
  1. Albuquerque, NM 5 mi (7 km)
  2. Santa Fe, NM 58 mi (93 km)
  3. Torreon Navajo Mission, NM 60 mi (97 km)
  4. Los Alamos, NM 62 mi (100 km)
  5. Gran Quivira National Monument, NM 63 mi (101 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 7b: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 35.0217, -106.6939.