Frost Dates for 76634 — Clifton, Texas

Half of springs at Whitney Dam, TX see their last 32°F night by March 15; only one in ten is past it by February 25, and one in ten still has one after April 7. Planting tender crops after March 25 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 31 20%, and after April 7 10%. The 23 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 72% 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 14 in half of years, as early as October 31 one year in ten, and holds off past December 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around November 28; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 28, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 243 days in a typical year, shorter than at 56% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 271 days one year in ten and falls short of 215 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 17 days longer, to about April 1, and return around November 4. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 38%.

August is the warmest month at Whitney Dam, TX, averaging 96°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 57°F and 34°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 80% of years and April still brings one in 20% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,231 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 57% of the 351 Texas stations. 40% of them (2,484) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 1,044. Precipitation totals 37.7 inches a year, most in May (4.6") and least in July (1.7"); May to September bring 42% of it.

The nearest other station, Waco Regional Airport, TX, 21 miles southeast of Clifton, has the same 50% last-frost date, a first frost 1 day later (November 15), a season 2 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Whitney Dam, TX, 9.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 76634 is 10 miles from Whitney Dam, TX, which stands at 574 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 76692 (Whitney). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 76634 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.