Albuquerque, New Mexico Frost Dates, Growing Season & Hardiness Zone
Frost odds and planting zone for Albuquerque for the 2027 season, based on 1991–2020 normals.
Last frost date
Apr 15
typical (50% chance of a later 32°F night)
Safer date: Apr 30 (10% risk)
earlyApr 15
typicalApr 30
safer
First fall frost
Oct 27
typical (50% chance it has happened by then)
Early-risk date: Oct 16 (10%)
Growing season
193 days
typical frost-free (32°F) season
Short year: 175 days (1 year in 10 is shorter)
USDA hardiness zone
7b–8a
2023 map: 5 to 15°F average coldest night
2012 map: 7b (most of the city)
Where you live in the metro matters. The typical last frost ranges from Apr 6 at Albuquerque International Airport to Apr 25 at Corrales.
By Apr 15, half of years have seen their last 32°F night. A later freeze, after Apr 30, happens in 1 year out of 10.
Based on NOAA station Petroglyph National Monument (USC00296754), 4.3 mi WNW, elevation 5,121 ft (+158 ft vs. city center). Confidence: High.
When is the last frost in Albuquerque?
The typical last 32°F night is Apr 15, and in 1 year out of 10 a freeze still comes after Apr 30. Cold 36°F nights (frost possible on plants) typically last longer, to around Apr 27. The last hard freeze (28°F) typically comes earlier, around Mar 31.
Frost risk in Albuquerque drags on well past the typical date. The safer 1-in-10 date (Apr 30) is 15 days later than the typical Apr 15, so protect tender plants set out early on cold nights.
Cold nights don't end with the last freeze. The typical last 36°F night (frost possible on plants in low spots) comes around Apr 27, 12 days after the typical last 32°F night. On clear, calm nights, frost can form on leaves while the thermometer still reads above freezing.
| Threshold | 10% (safer) | 30% | 50% (typical) | 90% (early) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F (frost possible on plants) | May 8 | May 1 | Apr 27 | Apr 14 |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 30 | Apr 21 | Apr 15 | Mar 31 |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 16 | Apr 6 | Mar 31 | Mar 10 |
All probabilities (10–90%)
| Threshold | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F (frost possible on plants) | May 8 | May 4 | May 1 | Apr 29 | Apr 27 | Apr 24 | Apr 21 | Apr 18 | Apr 14 |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 30 | Apr 25 | Apr 21 | Apr 18 | Apr 15 | Apr 12 | Apr 8 | Apr 5 | Mar 31 |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 16 | Apr 10 | Apr 6 | Apr 3 | Mar 31 | Mar 27 | Mar 22 | Mar 17 | Mar 10 |
Is it too early to plant in Albuquerque?
Before Apr 15 the odds of another 32°F night are better than even; after Apr 30 they are about 1 in 10 or less.
Today's risk is computed in your browser from the same NOAA probability table, shown as the range between the two nearest NOAA probability levels.
When is the first frost in Albuquerque?
By Oct 27, half of years have had their first 32°F night. In 1 year out of 10, it comes as early as Oct 16. In a typical year, look for the first 36°F night (frost possible on plants) around Oct 19 and the first 28°F hard freeze around Nov 4.
For fall crops, count back from Oct 27, or from Oct 16 to be safe. Our planting calendar does the math for each crop.
| Threshold | 10% (early) | 30% | 50% (typical) | 90% (late) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F (frost possible on plants) | Oct 7 | Oct 14 | Oct 19 | Oct 29 |
| 32°F freeze | Oct 16 | Oct 22 | Oct 27 | Nov 7 |
| 28°F hard freeze | Oct 23 | Oct 31 | Nov 4 | Nov 17 |
All probabilities (10–90%)
| Threshold | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F (frost possible on plants) | Oct 7 | Oct 11 | Oct 14 | Oct 16 | Oct 19 | Oct 21 | Oct 23 | Oct 25 | Oct 29 |
| 32°F freeze | Oct 16 | Oct 20 | Oct 22 | Oct 25 | Oct 27 | Oct 30 | Nov 1 | Nov 4 | Nov 7 |
| 28°F hard freeze | Oct 23 | Oct 27 | Oct 31 | Nov 2 | Nov 4 | Nov 7 | Nov 10 | Nov 13 | Nov 17 |
How long is Albuquerque's growing season?
A typical year in Albuquerque has 193 days between the last spring and first fall 32°F nights. In about 1 year in 10, there are fewer than 175 days.
A season this long fits most warm-season vegetables planted on time. Long-season crops do best when started from transplants.
Growing degree days measure the heat available for crops to grow. The station averages 4,153 a year (base 50°F).
| Threshold | 10% (long year) | 50% (typical) | 90% (short year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F (frost possible on plants) | 191 days | 173 days | 157 days |
| 32°F freeze | 214 days | 193 days | 175 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | 242 days | 218 days | 196 days |
How does Albuquerque's season compare?
Among the 56 U.S. cities with frost dates on this site, the typical frost-free season here is longer than in 25 of them and shorter than in 30.
Growing degree days (base 50°F)
Annual normal: 4,153 GDD (NOAA flag R, 19 years). Running total by the end of each month (sum of NOAA daily GDD normals, so the year-end total can differ slightly from the annual normal):
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 8 | 85 | 304 | 791 | 1,556 | 2,450 | 3,276 | 3,869 | 4,124 | 4,152 | 4,152 |
What growing zone is Albuquerque? (USDA 2023)
The 2023 USDA map puts Albuquerque in zone 7b–8a (5 to 15°F average coldest winter night). On the 2012 map, most of the city was 7b. Comparing ZIPs listed in both tables, 2 of 19 moved up half a zone.
| ZIP | 2023 | 2012 | Change | Share of ZIP in Albuquerque |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 87101 mostly in city | 7b | 7b | unchanged | 100% |
| 87102 mostly in city | 7b | 7b | unchanged | 98% |
| 87104 mostly in city | 7b | 7b | unchanged | 89% |
| 87105 | 7b | 7b | unchanged | 9% |
| 87106 mostly in city | 8a | 7b | +1 half zone (warmer) | 90% |
| 87107 mostly in city | 7b | 7b | unchanged | 56% |
| 87108 mostly in city | 8a | 7b | +1 half zone (warmer) | 91% |
| 87109 mostly in city | 7b | 7b | unchanged | 100% |
| 87110 mostly in city | 7b | 7b | unchanged | 100% |
| 87111 mostly in city | 7b | 7b | unchanged | 100% |
| 87112 mostly in city | 7b | 7b | unchanged | 100% |
| 87113 | 7b | 7b | unchanged | 42% |
| 87114 mostly in city | 7b | 7b | unchanged | 58% |
| 87116 | 7b | 7b | unchanged | 6% |
| 87120 mostly in city | 7b | 7b | unchanged | 79% |
| 87121 | 7b | 7b | unchanged | 3% |
| 87122 | 7b | 7b | unchanged | 8% |
| 87123 | 7b | 7b | unchanged | 35% |
| 87124 | 7b | 7b | unchanged | 0% |
Other ZIPs touching Albuquerque and PO-box ZIPs
ZIPs outside the 871 prefix that overlap the city boundary:
- 87048: 2023 7b, 2012 7b (0.0% of the ZIP is in Albuquerque)
PO-box and single-address 871xx ZIPs have no Census area, so we cannot tell which city they serve: 87103 (7b/7b), 87115 (n/a/7b), 87117 (7b/7b), 87119 (8a/7b), 87125 (7b/7b), 87131 (n/a/7b), 87144 (7b/7b), 87151 (7b/7b), 87153 (7b/7b), 87154 (7b/7b), 87158 (7b/7b), 87174 (n/a/7b), 87176 (7b/7b), 87181 (7b/7b), 87184 (7b/7b), 87185 (8a/7b), 87187 (7b/7b), 87190 (7b/7b), 87191 (7b/7b), 87192 (7b/7b), 87193 (7b/7b), 87194 (7b/7b), 87195 (7b/7b), 87196 (7b/7b), 87197 (7b/7b), 87198 (8a/7b), 87199 (7b/7b) (2023/2012).
Zones: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed 2026-10-08. Shown as published in the ZIP tables; this page does not show a zone map. Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov).
Does the new zone change Albuquerque's frost dates?
No. Zones describe only how cold the coldest winter night gets on average. They don't tell you when frost starts or stops. The frost dates for Albuquerque come from NOAA's 1991–2020 frost probabilities, which the 2023 zone map left untouched. Choose winter-hardy perennials by zone, and schedule planting by frost dates.
Why do Albuquerque frost dates differ between websites?
You may see Apr 21 given as Albuquerque's last frost date. That's the 30%-risk date, meaning about 3 years in 10 still have a 32°F night after it. Our headline date is Apr 15, the 50% (median) date.
Apr 30 is the date we call 'safer': it's the 10%-risk date, with a 32°F night after it in only about 1 year in 10.
Apr 27 is the typical (50%) date for a 36°F night (frost possible on plants), not a 32°F freeze. Any site that draws the line at 36°F will show later dates.
Station choice is another reason dates differ. Our 8 qualifying stations within 25 miles of the city center range from Apr 6 to Apr 25 for the typical (50%) last 32°F frost (table below).
| Date | What it is (NOAA 1991–2020) |
|---|---|
| Apr 21 | 32°F last frost, 30% risk (a 'balanced' date) |
| Apr 27 | 36°F last cold night, 50% (frost possible on plants) |
| Apr 30 | 32°F last frost, 10% risk (the 'safer' date) |
| Mar 31 | 28°F last hard freeze, 50% |
| Apr 6 | 32°F last frost, 50%, at Albuquerque International Airport (nearest station with NOAA flag S) |
| Station | Distance | Elevation | Typical last frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque International Airport | 4.7 mi SSE | 5,310 ft | Apr 6 |
| Rio Rancho #2 | 10.2 mi N | 5,290 ft | Apr 8 |
| Petroglyph National Monument used here | 4.3 mi WNW | 5,121 ft | Apr 15 |
| Rio Rancho #1 | 12.4 mi N | 5,230 ft | Apr 16 |
| Jemez Dam | 20.4 mi NNE | 5,388 ft | Apr 17 |
| Albuquerque Valley | 6.3 mi SSW | 4,955 ft | Apr 18 |
| Los Lunas 3 SSW | 24.2 mi SSW | 4,840 ft | Apr 23 |
| Corrales | 10.4 mi NNE | 5,026 ft | Apr 25 |
Which weather station is this based on?
- Station
- Petroglyph National Monument (NOAA USC00296754, COOP)
- Distance
- 4.3 mi WNW of the city center
- Elevation
- 5,121 ft; city center 4,963 ft (USGS), difference +158 ft
- Record
- NOAA completeness flag R, 22 of 30 years (1991–2020)
- Confidence
- High (rule)
Confidence: High. The station is close (4.3 miles from the city center), its elevation differs by just 158 ft, and its frost statistics meet our completeness rule (NOAA flag R, 22 of 30 years).
Caveat: NOAA flags this station's frost statistics 'R' (representative). They rest on 22 of the 30 years in 1991–2020, with missing months filled in from surrounding stations. The nearest station with a full 'S' (standard) record is Albuquerque International Airport, 4.7 mi away; its typical last frost is Apr 6.
| Station | ID | Distance | Elev. (Δ) | Last frost 50% | First frost 50% | Season 50% | NOAA flag / years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petroglyph National Monument | USC00296754 | 4.3 mi WNW | 5,121 ft (+158) | Apr 15 | Oct 27 | 193 d | R / 22 |
| Albuquerque International Airport | USW00023050 | 4.7 mi SSE | 5,310 ft (+347) | Apr 6 | Nov 3 | 208 d | S / 26 |
| Albuquerque Valley | USC00290231 | 6.3 mi SSW | 4,955 ft (-8) | Apr 18 | Oct 24 | 189 d | S / 29 |
| Rio Rancho #2 | USC00297481 | 10.2 mi N | 5,290 ft (+327) | Apr 8 | Nov 1 | 203 d | R / 11 |
| Corrales | USC00292100 | 10.4 mi NNE | 5,026 ft (+63) | Apr 25 | Oct 17 | 173 d | R / 22 |
| Rio Rancho #1 | USC00297477 | 12.4 mi N | 5,230 ft (+267) | Apr 16 | Oct 23 | 191 d | R / 12 |
| Jemez Dam | USC00294366 | 20.4 mi NNE | 5,388 ft (+425) | Apr 17 | Oct 24 | 188 d | R / 15 |
| Los Lunas 3 SSW | USC00295150 | 24.2 mi SSW | 4,840 ft (-123) | Apr 23 | Oct 21 | 178 d | S / 24 |
Other stations within 25 mi (not used)
- Rio Grande Nature Center (USC00297461), 2.7 mi NW, 4,944 ft: typical last frost Apr 23. Not used: frost normals incomplete or flagged (needs all 81 values with S/R flags, or values missing only because NOAA's probability of occurrence is below 10%).
- Albuquerque Foothills NE (USC00290225), 8.8 mi ENE, 5,994 ft: typical last frost Apr 21. Not used: |elev diff| 1031 ft > 500 ft.
- Placitas 4 W (USC00296911), 17.3 mi NNE, 5,585 ft: typical last frost Apr 16. Not used: frost normals incomplete or flagged (needs all 81 values with S/R flags, or values missing only because NOAA's probability of occurrence is below 10%); |elev diff| 622 ft > 500 ft.
- Sandia Park (USC00298015), 17.5 mi ENE, 7,030 ft: typical last frost May 9. Not used: |elev diff| 2067 ft > 500 ft.
51 other NOAA normals stations within 40 km (mostly rain gauges) have no frost statistics.
Albuquerque planting dates at a glance
Balanced dates use the 30%-risk last-frost date as the anchor. The Albuquerque planting calendar has typical and safe dates, fall planting and a month-by-month list for 26 vegetables.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outdoors (balanced) | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 4–18 | May 23 | – |
| Peppers | Mar 10–24 | May 5 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Apr 7–21 | – |
| Onions (dry, from sets) | – | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | – |
| Peas | – | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | sow by Aug 9 |
| Lettuce (leaf) | – | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | sow by Aug 14 |
| Carrots | – | Apr 7–21 | sow by Aug 4 |
| Beans (snap) | – | Apr 21 | sow by Jul 31 |
| Summer squash | – | Apr 21 | sow by Aug 10 |
| Broccoli | Feb 3–17 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | transplant by Aug 9 |
| Cabbage | Feb 3–17 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | transplant by Jul 20 |
| Cauliflower | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Apr 7–21 | – |
| Kohlrabi | – | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | sow by Aug 24 |
| Green onions | – | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | sow by Aug 14 |
| Radishes | – | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | sow by Sep 13 |
| Spinach | – | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | sow by Sep 3 |
| Turnips | – | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | sow by Aug 24 |
| Beets | – | Apr 7–21 | sow by Aug 14 |
| Swiss chard | – | Apr 7–21 | sow by Aug 14 |
| Parsnips | – | Apr 7–21 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 21 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Apr 21 | sow by Aug 5 |
| Eggplant | Mar 3–24 | May 5 | – |
| Cantaloupe | – | May 5 | – |
| Watermelon | – | May 5 | – |
| Winter squash | – | May 5 | – |
When to plant tomatoes in Albuquerque · Fall planting dates for Albuquerque
Frost dates near Albuquerque
| City | Distance | Last frost | First frost | Season | Zone 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso, TX frost dates | 225 mi | Mar 2 | Nov 20 | 261 days | 8b |
| Pueblo, CO frost dates | 246 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 13 | 166 days | 6a |
| Colorado Springs, CO frost dates | 280 mi | May 3 | Oct 8 | 158 days | 5b–6a |
| Grand Junction, CO frost dates | 295 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 16 | 171 days | 6b–7a |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average last frost date in Albuquerque?
Apr 15 is the median (50%) date for Albuquerque's last 32°F night, from NOAA 1991–2020 normals at Petroglyph National Monument. To play it safe, use Apr 30: only about 1 year in 10 has a freeze after it.
When is the first frost in Albuquerque?
The first 32°F night typically arrives by Oct 27. About 1 year in 10, it comes as early as Oct 16. A 36°F night (frost possible on plants) typically shows up around Oct 19.
What growing zone is Albuquerque, New Mexico?
Zone 7b–8a. Most of Albuquerque was 7b on the 2012 map too, but 2 of 19 city ZIPs changed zone.
Is it too early to plant in Albuquerque?
Before Apr 15, yes, for anything frost-tender. Until then, the odds of another 32°F night are better than even. The risk falls from 50% to 10% between Apr 15 and Apr 30. Peas, lettuce and other cool-season crops can go in weeks earlier; the planting calendar has dates.
What temperature is a killing frost?
It depends on the crop. Tender plants such as tomatoes are killed by a light frost, which CSU Extension describes as 28–32°F; below 28°F is a heavy frost. We show NOAA odds for 36°F (frost possible on plants), 32°F (freeze, our headline) and 28°F (hard freeze).
Is first frost the same as first freeze?
Not exactly. A freeze is about the air reaching 32°F. Frost is ice on surfaces, which can form on calm, clear nights while the air is still a few degrees above freezing. So in Albuquerque, the first 36°F night (frost possible on plants) typically comes around Oct 19, ahead of the first 32°F night (Oct 27).
Download & sources
- Add Albuquerque frost & planting dates to your calendar (.ics, 2027)
- Printable planting calendar (PDF)
- How these numbers are calculated
Data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal and daily normals, station USC00296754); USDA Plant Hardiness Zone ZIP tables 2023 and 2012 by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; Census 2020 ZIP/place relationship file; USGS elevation. Long-term odds, not a forecast. Figures and sentences are generated from these data by fixed rules; see the methodology. Last updated 2026-10-08.