Frost Dates for 75980 — Zavalla, Texas

Half of springs at Sam Rayburn Dam, TX see their last 32°F night by February 24; only one in ten is past it by January 28, and one in ten still has one after March 23. Planting tender crops after March 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 13 20%, and after March 23 10%. The 27 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 86% of the 339 Texas stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so a fixed calendar date is a gamble here.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by December 1 in half of years, as early as November 9 one year in ten, and holds off past December 27 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 21 days later, around December 22; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 5, 18 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 280 days in a typical year, longer than at 78% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 316 days one year in ten and falls short of 248 one year in ten. On average 30 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 17 days longer, to about March 13, and return around November 19. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 62% of winters and 16°F in 2%.

August is the warmest month at Sam Rayburn Dam, TX, averaging 95°F by day and 74°F at night; January is the coldest at 60°F and 41°F. A freezing night is all but certain in January (a 90% chance or more). From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 72% of years and March still brings one in 36% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 7,086 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 70% of the 351 Texas stations. 42% of them (2,974) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 1,068. Precipitation totals 59.9 inches a year, most in December (6.1") and least in July (3.5"); May to September bring 38% of it.

The nearest other station, Lufkin Angelina Co Airport, TX, 24 miles west of Zavalla, has a last frost 15 days later (March 11), a first frost 16 days earlier (November 15), a season 33 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 2 of 19 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Broaddus, TX, 11.7 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 75980 is 17 miles from Sam Rayburn Dam, TX, which stands at 189 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 75951 (Jasper). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 75980 in zone 9a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.