Frost Dates for 76501 — Temple, Texas

Half of springs at Stillhouse Hollow Dam, TX see their last 32°F night by March 14; only one in ten is past it by February 22, and one in ten still has one after April 4. Planting tender crops after March 22 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 29 20%, and after April 4 10%. The 21 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 50% 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 20 in half of years, as early as October 29 one year in ten, and holds off past December 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around December 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 21, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 251 days in a typical year, longer than at 53% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 276 days one year in ten and falls short of 218 one year in ten. On average 33 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 13 days longer, to about March 27, and return around November 8. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 95% of winters and 16°F in 31%.

August is the warmest month at Stillhouse Hollow Dam, TX, averaging 96°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 60°F and 36°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 75% of years and April still brings one in 15% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,498 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 56% of the 351 Texas stations. 40% of them (2,629) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 1,051. Precipitation totals 37.1 inches a year, most in May (4.9") and least in July (1.9"); May to September bring 44% of it.

The nearest other station, Killeen, TX, 23 miles west of Temple, has the same 50% last-frost date, a first frost 3 days earlier (November 17), a season 4 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 2 of 18 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Troy, TX, 7.9 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 76501 is 13 miles from Stillhouse Hollow Dam, TX, which stands at 706 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 76502 (Temple). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 76501 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.