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USDA Hardiness Zone 8b

Frost Dates for 75149 — Mesquite, Texas

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Dallas Love Field, TX (440 ft), 16 miles west.

Updated

In Mesquite, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 2 in half of years and has passed by March 19 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 29, as early as November 10 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 272 days (NOAA, Dallas Love Field, TX).

Last spring frost
March 2

50% probability

First fall frost
November 29

50% probability

Growing season
272 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8b

15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
11%

2 of 19 observed

Snow per year
0.2"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Mesquite

Half of springs at Dallas Love Field, TX see their last 32°F night by March 2; only one in ten is past it by February 10, and one in ten still has one after March 19. Planting tender crops after March 9 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 13 20%, and after March 19 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 86% of the 339 Texas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 29 in half of years, as early as November 10 one year in ten, and holds off past December 18 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around December 12; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 9, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 272 days in a typical year, longer than at 72% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 299 days one year in ten and falls short of 246 one year in ten. On average 23 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 12 days longer, to about March 14, and return around November 16. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 89% of winters and 16°F in 18%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FFeb 25Mar 2Mar 6Mar 11Mar 14Mar 18Mar 22Mar 29Apr 4
32°FFeb 10Feb 18Feb 24Feb 28Mar 2Mar 5Mar 9Mar 13Mar 19
28°F99% of yrsJan 21Jan 30Feb 6Feb 13Feb 18Feb 24Feb 28Mar 4Mar 9
24°F89% of yrsDec 31Jan 12Jan 20Jan 26Jan 31Feb 7Feb 14Feb 21Mar 2
20°F52% of yrsDec 24Jan 1Jan 7Jan 15Jan 20Jan 27Feb 2Feb 10Feb 20
16°F18% of yrstoo rare for a date
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 30Nov 4Nov 8Nov 12Nov 16Nov 19Nov 24Nov 29Dec 3
32°FNov 10Nov 16Nov 20Nov 25Nov 29Dec 1Dec 5Dec 11Dec 18
28°F99% of yrsNov 21Nov 28Dec 2Dec 7Dec 12Dec 17Dec 23Dec 30Jan 8
24°F89% of yrsDec 3Dec 9Dec 17Dec 23Dec 29Jan 3Jan 9Jan 18Feb 1
20°F52% of yrsDec 13Dec 22Dec 30Jan 2Jan 7Jan 12Jan 19Jan 31Feb 9
16°F18% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Dallas Love Field, TX, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 75149 →Compare Mesquite with another place →

Weather by month in Mesquite

July is the warmest month at Dallas Love Field, TX, averaging 97°F by day and 78°F at night; January is the coldest at 58°F and 38°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 56% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 7,039 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 68% of the 351 Texas stations. 41% of them (2,856) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,156. Precipitation totals 38.4 inches a year, most in October (4.8") and least in July (1.7"); May to September bring 40% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Dallas Love Field, TX
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan58382.698%988
Feb62422.891%5142
Mar70493.556%1325
Apr77573.21%0515
May85664.60%0789
Jun93743.80%0997
Jul97781.70%01156
Aug97772.20%01154
Sep90703.10%0901
Oct80594.81%<1595
Nov68482.954%2269
Dec59403.296%7107

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Dallas Love Field, TX (440 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Dallas Redbird Airport, TX, 16 miles west of Mesquite and 218 feet higher, has a last frost 4 days later (March 6), a first frost 4 days earlier (November 25), a season 7 days shorter.

Frost dates for 75217 (Dallas) →

When it snows in Mesquite, Texas

Measurable snow is rare here: only 2 of 19 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Rockwall, TX, 14.1 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 75149

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Mesquite, Texas
WhenWhat to do
December 22 – January 5Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 5 – January 19Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 2 – February 16Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 2 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by September 6Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by November 15Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 29 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 75149 is 16 miles from Dallas Love Field, TX, which stands at 440 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 30 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 75228 (Dallas). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 75149 in zone 8b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across Texas →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 8b places in Texas