Skip to content

USDA Hardiness Zone 8a

Frost Dates for 75495 — Van Alstyne, Texas

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Mckinney Municipal Airport, TX (586 ft), 16 miles south.

Updated

In Van Alstyne, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 17 in half of years and has passed by April 5 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 15, as early as October 27 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 241 days (NOAA, Mckinney Municipal Airport, TX).

Last spring frost
March 17

50% probability

First fall frost
November 15

50% probability

Growing season
241 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8a

10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
31%

5 of 16 observed

Snow per year
—

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Van Alstyne

Half of springs at Mckinney Municipal Airport, TX see their last 32°F night by March 17; only one in ten is past it by February 27, and one in ten still has one after April 5. Planting tender crops after March 26 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 31 20%, and after April 5 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 15 in half of years, as early as October 27 one year in ten, and holds off past December 5 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around November 30; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 24, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 241 days in a typical year, shorter than at 60% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 268 days one year in ten and falls short of 213 one year in ten. On average 45 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 March 31, and return around November 3. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 57%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 9Mar 18Mar 23Mar 28Mar 31Apr 4Apr 7Apr 12Apr 19
32°FFeb 27Mar 3Mar 8Mar 13Mar 17Mar 21Mar 26Mar 31Apr 5
28°FFeb 15Feb 22Feb 28Mar 1Mar 4Mar 8Mar 12Mar 16Mar 24
24°F99% of yrsJan 26Feb 5Feb 13Feb 18Feb 24Feb 28Mar 3Mar 7Mar 13
20°F88% of yrsJan 3Jan 18Jan 26Jan 31Feb 8Feb 15Feb 22Feb 28Mar 5
16°F57% of yrsDec 27Jan 7Jan 15Jan 23Jan 30Feb 4Feb 11Feb 18Feb 28
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 20Oct 25Oct 28Oct 31Nov 3Nov 7Nov 10Nov 16Nov 24
32°FOct 27Nov 2Nov 7Nov 11Nov 15Nov 19Nov 24Nov 30Dec 5
28°FNov 6Nov 13Nov 20Nov 24Nov 30Dec 3Dec 7Dec 14Dec 23
24°F99% of yrsNov 22Nov 30Dec 5Dec 11Dec 18Dec 25Jan 1Jan 6Jan 16
20°F88% of yrsDec 6Dec 15Dec 23Dec 30Jan 4Jan 9Jan 16Jan 29Feb 7
16°F57% of yrsDec 13Dec 24Jan 1Jan 6Jan 11Jan 17Jan 26Feb 3Feb 13

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Mckinney Municipal Airport, 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 75495 →Compare Van Alstyne with another place →

Weather by month in Van Alstyne

July is the warmest month at Mckinney Municipal Airport, TX, averaging 94°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 56°F and 34°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 82% of years and April still brings one in 18% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,061 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 68% of the 351 Texas stations. 40% of them (2,422) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,034.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Mckinney Municipal Airport, TX
MonthHigh °FLow °F32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan5634100%1451
Feb603698%1179
Mar694582%3263
Apr765218%<1429
May83620%0701
Jun90700%0900
Jul94730%01034
Aug95710%01021
Sep87650%0783
Oct795417%<1508
Nov674477%5217
Dec5837100%1277

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Mckinney Municipal Airport, TX (586 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, Mckinney Municipal Airport, TX, 17 miles south of Van Alstyne, has a last frost 1 day later (March 18), a first frost 4 days earlier (November 11), a season 2 days shorter.

Frost dates for 75002 (Allen) →

When it snows in Van Alstyne, Texas

Measurable snow is rare here: only 5 of 16 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Mckinney Municipal Airport, TX, 16.4 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 75495

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Van Alstyne, Texas
WhenWhat to do
January 6 – January 20Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 20 – February 3Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 17 – March 3Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 17 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 23Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by November 1Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 15 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 75495 is 16 miles from Mckinney Municipal Airport, TX, which stands at 586 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 8 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 75071 (Mckinney). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 75495 in zone 8a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°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 8a places in Texas