U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USW00093044 · New Mexico

Frost Dates for Zuni, NM

NOAA weather station Zuni (USW00093044), New Mexico · elevation 6311 ft (1924 m) · hardiness zone 6a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter June 13only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMay 2950% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 250% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season127 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone6acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Zuni, NMSpring: a frost after May 9 in 9 years out of 10, after May 29 in half of the years, after June 13 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before September 21 in 1 year out of 10, before October 2 in half of the years, before October 14 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 127 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~May 29First frost ~Oct 2Frost season at Zuni, NMSpring: a frost after May 9 in 9 years out of 10, after May 29 in half of the years, after June 13 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before September 21 in 1 year out of 10, before October 2 in half of the years, before October 14 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 127 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~May 29First frost ~Oct 2
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)June 13September 21
50% (typical)May 29October 2
90% (likely)May 9October 14
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
127 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
May 12
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
October 10

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost May 31 (2 days later than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost October 2. Frost-free season 125 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 Zuni: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% June 13, 20% June 6, 30% June 3, 40% June 1, 50% May 29, 60% May 24, 70% May 19, 80% May 14, 90% May 9. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 May 25, 2022 May 25, 2023 May 12, 2024 May 25, 2025 May 20.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%May 1Jun 1Jun 13May 29May 92021: May 252022: May 252023: May 122024: May 252025: May 20Fall at Zuni: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% September 21, 20% September 24, 30% September 28, 40% October 1, 50% October 2, 60% October 4, 70% October 7, 80% October 10, 90% October 14. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 October 11, 2022 October 18, 2023 October 3, 2024 October 20, 2025 October 5.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Oct 1Sep 21Oct 2Oct 142021: October 112022: October 182023: October 32024: October 202025: October 5
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
2021May 25October 11
2022May 25October 18
2023May 12October 3
2024May 25October 20
2025May 20October 5
2026no dataseason not over yet

What these dates mean

The 127 days between the 50% dates of May 29 and October 2 frame the interval in which light frosts are equally likely to have passed or not yet arrived in Zuni.

The 50% date of May 29 carries a 50% chance of a frost later than this date, and the 50% date of October 2 carries a 50% chance of a frost earlier than this date. For a cautious spring plan, the June 13 date—when there is only a 10% chance of a later frost—is the recommended point to set out tender crops. In the fall, the September 21 date—when there is only a 10% chance of an earlier frost—serves as the cautious deadline for finishing tender harvests. Planting on May 9 or waiting until October 14 would involve a 90% chance of frost and is therefore a gamble.

Hard frost at 28 °F, marked by the median dates of May 12 and October 10, can injure plants that survive a light frost at 32 °F, making those dates especially significant.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after June 13" 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 September 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 Zuni, NMNumbered nearest stations: 1 — El Morro National Monument, NM — 28 mi; 2 — Saint Johns, AZ — 50 mi; 3 — Petrified Forest National Park, AZ — 62 mi; 4 — Springerville, AZ — 69 mi; 5 — Canyon De Chelly, AZ — 85 mi.AZNM50 mi · 80 km1. El Morro National Monument, NM — 28 mi12. Saint Johns, AZ — 50 mi23. Petrified Forest National Park, AZ — 62 mi34. Springerville, AZ — 69 mi45. Canyon De Chelly, AZ — 85 mi5
  1. El Morro National Monument, NM 28 mi (45 km)
  2. Saint Johns, AZ 50 mi (80 km)
  3. Petrified Forest National Park, AZ 62 mi (100 km)
  4. Springerville, AZ 69 mi (112 km)
  5. Canyon De Chelly, AZ 85 mi (136 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 6a: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 35.0706, -108.8389.