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Your nature year

Las Cruces, New Mexicothrough the year

When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Las Cruces?

At some 3,900 feet up, Las Cruces is high enough that seasons run on a mountain clock. Leaves usually come out around Feb 7 and the first flowers around Mar 11.

About 5 weeks pass between first leaf and first bloom here. Expect about 246 frost-free days in Las Cruces: the last spring frost usually comes around Mar 12, the first fall one around Nov 13, going by NOAA's State Univ station 3.5 miles away. The closest place we follow is White Sands, 48 miles away, for wildflowers, from around mid-April, with more flowers joining in mid-May (local timing). Bosque del Apache Refuge (102 mi) is the pick for winter wildlife, Oct 20–Jan 31 (local timing). Within 150 miles we follow 4 places, out to Cave Creek Canyon 143 miles to the west.

Updated Sep 27. Sources: US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) ↗ (opens in a new tab), US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) ↗ (opens in a new tab)

Las Cruces's year at a glance

  • Frost possible
  • Frost-free, ~Mar 12 to ~Nov 13
  • First leaf ~Feb 7
  • First bloom ~Mar 11
  • Today

Near Las Cruces right now

  • First fall frost usually around Nov 13 · last spring frost around Mar 12NOAA 1991–2020 normals, State Univ (3.5 mi, 50% dates)
    ~7 weeks
  • Winter wildlife · Bosque del Apache Refuge · 102 miLocal timing: Oct 20–Jan 31
    ~3 weeks

Las Cruces's nature year

From the town's own dates and its nearest places
  • Spring green-upFeb
  • Last spring frostMar
  • Wildflowers · White SandsApr–May
  • Fall foliage · Guadalupe MountainsOct–Nov
  • Winter wildlife · Bosque del Apache RefugeOct–Jan
  • First fall frostNov

Nearby, season by season

Real places within 150 miles, straight-line

Fall foliage

Wildflowers

  • White Sands · 48 miLocal timing: from around mid-April, with more flowers joining in mid-May
    ~7 months

Winter wildlife

Frost and green-up

Last spring frost

Mar 12

Average (50% date)

First fall frost

Nov 13

About 246 days without frost between

Spring green-up

Feb 7

First bloom around Mar 11

Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at State Univ (3.5 mi from Las Cruces), the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not. Green-up: the USA-NPN Spring Index, 1991–2020 average at the town.

Questions people ask

When is the first frost in Las Cruces?

On average around Nov 13, and the last spring frost around Mar 12: about 246 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at State Univ, 3.5 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).

When does spring green-up reach Las Cruces?

The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 7 and first bloom around Mar 11, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.

Where can I see fall foliage near Las Cruces?

Guadalupe Mountains, 122 miles (usually Oct 25–Nov 7); Cave Creek Canyon, 143 miles (local timing: Oct 1–Nov 30). Distances are straight-line.

Where can I see wildflowers near Las Cruces?

White Sands, 48 miles (local timing: from around mid-April, with more flowers joining in mid-May). Distances are straight-line.

How we know

US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · USA National Phenology Network, Spring Index 1991–2020 averages (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27)

All our sources and how we use them →