U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00290417 · New Mexico

Frost Dates for Animas, NM

NOAA weather station Animas 3 ESE (USC00290417), New Mexico · elevation 4501 ft (1372 m) · hardiness zone 8a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 21only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 250% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 750% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season218 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone8acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Animas, NMSpring: a frost after March 10 in 9 years out of 10, after April 2 in half of the years, after April 21 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 23 in 1 year out of 10, before November 7 in half of the years, before November 21 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 218 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 2First frost ~Nov 7Frost season at Animas, NMSpring: a frost after March 10 in 9 years out of 10, after April 2 in half of the years, after April 21 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 23 in 1 year out of 10, before November 7 in half of the years, before November 21 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 218 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 2First frost ~Nov 7
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 21October 23
50% (typical)April 2November 7
90% (likely)March 10November 21
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
218 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 11
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 18

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost March 29 (4 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 8 (1 day later). Frost-free season 225 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 Animas: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 21, 20% April 14, 30% April 9, 40% April 6, 50% April 2, 60% March 29, 70% March 24, 80% March 17, 90% March 10.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Mar 1Apr 1May 1Apr 21Apr 2Mar 10Fall at Animas: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 23, 20% October 29, 30% November 1, 40% November 4, 50% November 7, 60% November 10, 70% November 13, 80% November 16, 90% November 21.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Oct 23Nov 7Nov 21
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.

What these dates mean

The 218 days between the 32°F 50% dates of April 2 and November 7 give the length of the period with even odds of a light frost. This window frames the season when tender crops can be grown if frost risk is managed.

For a cautious approach, the spring cautious date is April 21, when there is only a 10% chance of a light frost later, and the fall cautious date is October 23, when there is only a 10% chance of a light frost earlier. The median light-frost dates are April 2 and November 7, each representing a 50% chance of frost on either side.

The hard-frost median dates are March 11 in spring and November 18 in fall, and a hard frost at 28 °F can damage plants that survive a light frost at 32 °F.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after April 21" 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 23" 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 Animas, NMNumbered nearest stations: 1 — San Simon, AZ — 36 mi; 2 — near Douglas, AZ — 59 mi; 3 — Duncan, AZ — 60 mi; 4 — Cliff, NM — 64 mi; 5 — Tombstone, AZ — 78 mi.AZNM25 mi · 40 km1. San Simon, AZ — 36 mi12. near Douglas, AZ — 59 mi23. Duncan, AZ — 60 mi34. Cliff, NM — 64 mi45. Tombstone, AZ — 78 mi5
  1. San Simon, AZ 36 mi (58 km)
  2. near Douglas, AZ 59 mi (95 km)
  3. Duncan, AZ 60 mi (96 km)
  4. Cliff, NM 64 mi (103 km)
  5. Tombstone, AZ 78 mi (125 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: 31.9381, -108.7689.