Skip to main content

Frost Depth in New Mexico: When the Ground Freezes

4 of 11 stations freeze at 2 inches in a typical winter, 1 of them to 8 inches or deeper.

Stations that typically freeze
4 of 11
Earliest typical freeze at 2 in
Dec 2
Latest typical thaw at 2 in
Feb 23

Station by station

When does the ground freeze in New Mexico?

Each bar runs from the typical first freeze to the typical last thaw at that depth, the median over the station's complete winters on record, with the typical number of frozen days after it. Frost reaches the deeper probes later in the winter. A depth that froze in fewer than half of its winters has no typical dates. Stations: 4 typically freeze, 5 froze in some winters, 2 never stayed at or below 32°F for 3 days running.

Adams Ranch #1

SCAN

Froze at 2 inches in 2 of 5 complete winters on record.

2 in
Each frozen winter's first freeze to last thaw at 2 inches.

2 in: froze in 2 of 5 · 4 in: froze in 1 of 5 · 8 in: froze in 0 of 5 · 20 in: froze in 0 of 5 · 40 in: froze in 0 of 5

Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen

Alcalde

SCAN

Typically freezes to 4 inches, not to 8.

2 in
2 inches: typically frozen from Dec 11 to Feb 2, a median of 30 frozen days.30 days
4 in
4 inches: typically frozen from Dec 23 to Jan 27, a median of 16 frozen days.16 days
8 inFroze in 2 of 4 winters, no typical dates
20 inFroze in 0 of 4 winters, no typical dates
40 inFroze in 0 of 4 winters, no typical dates
Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen

Crossroads

SCAN

Froze at 2 inches in 2 of 4 complete winters on record.

2 in
Each frozen winter's first freeze to last thaw at 2 inches.

2 in: froze in 2 of 4 · 4 in: froze in 0 of 4 · 8 in: froze in 0 of 4 · 20 in: froze in 0 of 4 · 40 in: froze in 0 of 4

Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen

Jornada Exp Range

SCAN

In 4 complete winters on record, 2-inch soil never stayed at or below 32°F for 3 days running.

Lowest daily reading at each depth, each from a different day: 28.8°F at 2 inches, 34.3°F at 4 inches, 38.5°F at 8 inches, 45°F at 20 inches and 52.2°F at 40 inches; a reading at or below 32°F lasted only a day or two.

Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen

Las Cruces 20 N

USCRN

In 5 complete winters on record, 2-inch soil never stayed at or below 32°F for 3 days running.

Lowest daily reading at each depth, each from a different day: 31.6°F at 2 inches, 33.3°F at 4 inches, 35.6°F at 8 inches, 42.1°F at 20 inches and 47.5°F at 40 inches; a reading at or below 32°F lasted only a day or two.

Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen

Los Alamos 13 W

USCRN

Typically freezes to 4 inches, not to 8.

2 in
2 inches: typically frozen from Dec 2 to Feb 23, a median of 51 frozen days.51 days
4 in
4 inches: typically frozen from Dec 14 to Jan 25, a median of 15 frozen days.15 days
8 inFroze in 1 of 5 winters, no typical dates
20 inFroze in 1 of 5 winters, no typical dates
40 inFroze in 1 of 5 winters, no typical dates
Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen

Los Lunas PMC

SCAN

Froze at 2 inches in 1 of 3 complete winters on record.

2 in
Each frozen winter's first freeze to last thaw at 2 inches.

2 in: froze in 1 of 3 · 4 in: froze in 0 of 3 · 8 in: froze in 0 of 1 · 20 in: froze in 0 of 3 · 40 in: froze in 0 of 3

Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen

Sevilleta

SCAN

Froze at 2 inches in 2 of 4 complete winters on record.

2 in
Each frozen winter's first freeze to last thaw at 2 inches.

2 in: froze in 2 of 4 · 4 in: froze in 2 of 4 · 8 in: froze in 0 of 4 · 20 in: froze in 0 of 4 · 40 in: froze in 0 of 4

Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen

Socorro 20 N

USCRN

Froze at 2 inches in 2 of 4 complete winters on record.

2 in
Each frozen winter's first freeze to last thaw at 2 inches.

2 in: froze in 2 of 4 · 4 in: froze in 1 of 4 · 8 in: froze in 0 of 4 · 20 in: froze in 0 of 4 · 40 in: froze in 0 of 4

Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen

Thoreau

SCAN

Typically freezes to 8 inches, not to 20.

2 in
2 inches: typically frozen from Dec 10 to Feb 2, a median of 43 frozen days.43 days
4 in
4 inches: typically frozen from Dec 20 to Feb 6, a median of 45 frozen days.45 days
8 in
8 inches: typically frozen from Dec 29 to Feb 3, a median of 23 frozen days.23 days
20 inFroze in 2 of 4 winters, no typical dates
40 inFroze in 0 of 4 winters, no typical dates
Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen

Willow Wells

SCAN

Typically freezes to 2 inches, not to 4.

2 in
2 inches: typically frozen from Jan 14 to Jan 17, a median of 3 frozen days.3 days
4 inFroze in 1 of 5 winters, no typical dates
8 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
20 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
40 inFroze in 0 of 5 winters, no typical dates
Nov 3, 2026: Not frozen

A winter runs July to June. Our station readings come from one grass-covered site per station at five fixed depths, and often show shallower frost than regional figures.

More on frost depth

Where the ground is frozen today across the US · New Mexico soil temperature · First frost and frost depth guide