Frost Dates for 76528 — Gatesville, Texas

Half of springs at Gatesville, TX see their last 32°F night by March 19; only one in ten is past it by February 26, and one in ten still has one after April 7. Planting tender crops after March 29 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 1 20%, and after April 7 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 63% of the 339 Texas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 9 in half of years, as early as October 25 one year in ten, and holds off past November 30 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 27, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 236 days in a typical year, shorter than at 67% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 264 days one year in ten and falls short of 208 one year in ten. On average 43 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 2, and return around November 1. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 54%.

August is the warmest month at Gatesville, 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 82% of years and April still brings one in 23% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,486 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 55% of the 351 Texas stations. 41% of them (2,671) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 1,052. Precipitation totals 36.9 inches a year, most in October (4.2") and least in January (2.3"); May to September bring 44% of it.

The nearest other station, Mcgregor, TX, 19 miles east of Gatesville, has a last frost 4 days earlier (March 15), a first frost 9 days later (November 18), a season 13 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 2 of 17 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Gatesville, TX, 1.9 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 76528 is 2 miles from Gatesville, TX, which stands at 826 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 76528 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.