Frost Dates for 76259 — Ponder, Texas

Half of springs at Denton Municipal Airport, TX see their last 32°F night by March 24; only one in ten is past it by March 3, and one in ten still has one after April 17. Planting tender crops after April 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 8 20%, and after April 17 10%. The 24 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 76% 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 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 3, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 227 days in a typical year, shorter than at 79% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 255 days one year in ten and falls short of 199 one year in ten. On average 52 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 15 days longer, to about April 8, and return around October 30. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 73%.

July is the warmest month at Denton Municipal Airport, TX, averaging 96°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 56°F and 32°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 89% of years and April still brings one in 37% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,021 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 71% of the 351 Texas stations. 39% of them (2,377) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,068. Precipitation totals 35.7 inches a year, most in May (4.5") and least in July (1.8"); May to September bring 42% of it.

The nearest other station, Denton 2 SE, TX, 11 miles east of Ponder, has a last frost 11 days earlier (March 13), a first frost 13 days later (November 20), a season 24 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 8 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Denton 2 SE, TX, 11.1 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 76259 is 6 miles from Denton Municipal Airport, TX, which stands at 642 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 76226 (Argyle). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 76259 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.