Frost Dates for 76234 — Decatur, Texas

Half of springs at Decatur, TX see their last 32°F night by March 20; only one in ten is past it by February 28, and one in ten still has one after April 11. Planting tender crops after March 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 3 20%, and after April 11 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 11 in half of years, as early as October 25 one year in ten, and holds off past November 29 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 23; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 26, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 237 days in a typical year, shorter than at 66% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 262 days one year in ten and falls short of 211 one year in ten. On average 60 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 2. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 65%.

July is the warmest month at Decatur, TX, averaging 95°F by day and 74°F at night; January is the coldest at 56°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 86% of years and April still brings one in 26% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,182 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 60% of the 351 Texas stations. 40% of them (2,454) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,077. Precipitation totals 38.9 inches a year, most in May (4.9") and least in January (2.1"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Alvord 3 N, TX, 13 miles northwest of Decatur, has a last frost 12 days later (April 1), a first frost 7 days earlier (November 4), a season 18 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 7 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Decatur, TX, 4.3 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 76234 is 4 miles from Decatur, TX, which stands at 970 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 76234 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.