Frost Dates for 76043 — Glen Rose, Texas

Half of springs at Rainbow, TX see their last 32°F night by March 28; only one in ten is past it by March 5, and one in ten still has one after April 19. Planting tender crops after April 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 12 20%, and after April 19 10%. The 22 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 63% 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 November 7 in half of years, as early as October 22 one year in ten, and holds off past November 25 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 18; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 5, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 225 days in a typical year, shorter than at 81% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 252 days one year in ten and falls short of 197 one year in ten. On average 63 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 April 9, and return around October 28. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 70%.

July is the warmest month at Rainbow, TX, averaging 96°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 57°F and 31°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November 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 90% of years and April still brings one in 42% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,107 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 66% of the 351 Texas stations. 40% of them (2,443) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,069. Precipitation totals 34.1 inches a year, most in May (4.2") and least in July (1.8"); May to September bring 45% of it.

The nearest other station, Granbury 5N, TX, 20 miles north of Glen Rose, has a last frost 4 days earlier (March 24), a first frost 2 days later (November 9), a season 3 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 2 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Rainbow, TX, 4.5 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 76043 is 5 miles from Rainbow, TX, which stands at 648 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 76043 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.