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Will it freeze in Ruidoso in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Ruidoso during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 34°F. Frost possible.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM MST.
3 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 34°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 38°F Above 36°F · Chance Rain Showers
- Sat, Nov 7 35°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 35°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 39°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 39°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
Overnight lows from the National Weather Service forecast for this location. This covers the available forecast window, not the first freeze of the whole season. Frost can form above 32°F on clear, calm nights.
Frost and freeze probabilities
Freeze dates shift from year to year. Spring percentages describe the chance of a freeze after the stated date; fall percentages describe the chance of a freeze by that date. The 10% spring date is the cautious one: a later freeze happens about 1 year in 10.
These dates describe historical probabilities, not this year’s forecast or the earliest and latest possible freezes. Different weather stations or probability thresholds can produce different published dates for the same city.
Average first hard freeze in Ruidoso
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 17, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Ruidoso. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.
| Temperature | Last spring date 90% · 50% · 10% chance of a later freeze | First fall date 10% · 50% · 90% chance of an earlier freeze | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F frost possible | May 11 · May 23 · Jun 5 | Sep 12 · Sep 26 · Oct 6 | 123 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 30 · May 11 · May 22 | Sep 24 · Oct 5 · Oct 20 | 147 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 15 · Apr 30 · May 11 | Oct 3 · Oct 17 · Nov 1 | 170 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Ruidoso
Average low temperature by month
Months with lows near or below freezing carry frost risk
Where these frost dates come from
The frost dates for Ruidoso, NM come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Ruidoso (station USC00297649, elevation 6,930 ft), 1.4 mi from Ruidoso. Local conditions (valleys, hilltops, distance to water, city heat) can shift frost dates by days or weeks. The hardiness zone is from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA ARS and Oregon State University PRISM). See our methodology.
Frost dates near Ruidoso
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alamogordo, NM | 37 mi | Mar 9 | Nov 18 |
| Roswell, NM | 66 mi | Apr 13 | Oct 30 |
| Artesia, NM | 80 mi | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| Socorro, NM | 86 mi | Apr 16 | Oct 25 |
| Truth or Consequences, NM | 93 mi | Mar 22 | Nov 9 |
| Las Cruces, NM | 96 mi | Mar 12 | Nov 13 |
| Carlsbad, NM | 106 mi | Mar 17 | Nov 12 |
| Anthony, NM | 107 mi | Feb 28 | Nov 20 |
| El Paso, TX | 113 mi | Mar 2 | Nov 20 |
| Belen, NM | 117 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 21 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Ruidoso?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Ruidoso is around May 11. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 22, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 30.
When is the first frost in Ruidoso?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 5. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 24 and a 90% chance by October 20.
Can it frost in Ruidoso after the last frost date?
Yes. Frost can form on clear, calm nights even when the air stays above 32°F. Temperatures of 36°F or lower, cold enough for frost on exposed plants, have a 50% chance of occurring after May 23.
What growing zone is Ruidoso?
Ruidoso is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 0 to 5°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 88345. See growing zones in New Mexico.
More: all New Mexico frost dates · New Mexico growing zones · frost vs. freeze