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USDA Hardiness Zone 8b

Frost Dates for 75440 — Emory, Texas

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Emory, TX (484 ft), 3 miles west.

Updated

In Emory, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 20 in half of years and has passed by April 8 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 12, as early as October 28 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 238 days (NOAA, Emory, TX).

Last spring frost
March 20

50% probability

First fall frost
November 12

50% probability

Growing season
238 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
39%

7 of 18 observed

Snow per year
1.3"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Emory

Half of springs at Emory, TX see their last 32°F night by March 20; only one in ten is past it by February 27, and one in ten still has one after April 8. Planting tender crops after March 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 3 20%, and after April 8 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 63% of the 339 Texas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 12 in half of years, as early as October 28 one year in ten, and holds off past December 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around November 26; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 28, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 238 days in a typical year, shorter than at 65% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 265 days one year in ten and falls short of 212 one year in ten. On average 54 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 14 days longer, to about April 3, and return around November 1. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 58%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 15Mar 22Mar 28Mar 31Apr 3Apr 7Apr 11Apr 16Apr 22
32°FFeb 27Mar 5Mar 11Mar 15Mar 20Mar 25Mar 30Apr 3Apr 8
28°FFeb 16Feb 22Feb 27Mar 2Mar 6Mar 9Mar 14Mar 19Mar 28
24°FJan 26Feb 3Feb 10Feb 16Feb 22Feb 27Mar 2Mar 6Mar 13
20°F90% of yrsJan 2Jan 15Jan 23Jan 30Feb 4Feb 10Feb 18Feb 26Mar 4
16°F58% of yrsDec 20Dec 31Jan 6Jan 14Jan 21Jan 28Feb 4Feb 12Feb 22
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 18Oct 22Oct 27Oct 30Nov 1Nov 4Nov 7Nov 11Nov 18
32°FOct 28Nov 1Nov 5Nov 9Nov 12Nov 17Nov 20Nov 25Dec 1
28°FNov 5Nov 11Nov 17Nov 21Nov 26Nov 30Dec 3Dec 6Dec 12
24°FNov 16Nov 25Nov 30Dec 3Dec 7Dec 12Dec 19Dec 23Jan 2
20°F90% of yrsNov 30Dec 8Dec 14Dec 20Dec 25Jan 1Jan 6Jan 14Jan 28
16°F58% of yrsDec 11Dec 17Dec 25Dec 31Jan 3Jan 10Jan 18Jan 28Feb 9

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Emory, 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 75440 →Compare Emory with another place →

Weather by month in Emory

July is the warmest month at Emory, TX, averaging 92°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 55°F and 33°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 84% of years and April still brings one in 26% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,625 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 86% of the 351 Texas stations. 39% of them (2,211) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 979. Precipitation totals 45.6 inches a year, most in October (4.8") and least in August (2.8"); May to September bring 39% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Emory, TX
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan55333.1100%1751
Feb59363.599%1275
Mar67444.684%4218
Apr74514.126%<1378
May81604.60%0642
Jun88684.10%0847
Jul92723.10%0979
Aug92702.80%0964
Sep87643.30%0760
Oct77534.815%<1459
Nov66433.487%5188
Dec57354.2100%1564

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Emory, TX (484 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, Lake Tawakoni, TX, 9 miles west of Emory, has a last frost 4 days earlier (March 16), a first frost 2 days later (November 14), a season 4 days longer.

Frost dates for 75474 (Quinlan) →

When it snows in Emory, Texas

Measurable snow is rare here: only 7 of 18 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Emory, TX, 2.5 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 75440

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Emory, Texas
WhenWhat to do
January 9 – January 23Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 23 – February 6Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 20 – March 6Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 20 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 20Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 29Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 12 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 75440 is 3 miles from Emory, TX, which stands at 484 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 75440 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.

Other zone 8b places in Texas