Frost Dates for 76821 — Ballinger, Texas

Half of springs at Ballinger 2 NW, TX see their last 32°F night by March 22; only one in ten is past it by March 2, and one in ten still has one after April 12. Planting tender crops after March 31 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 5 20%, and after April 12 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 10 in half of years, as early as October 28 one year in ten, and holds off past November 28 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 22; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 30, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 233 days in a typical year, shorter than at 72% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 258 days one year in ten and falls short of 207 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 13 days longer, to about April 4, and return around November 1. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 68%.

July is the warmest month at Ballinger 2 NW, TX, averaging 96°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 59°F and 31°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 29% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,130 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 65% of the 351 Texas stations. 41% of them (2,504) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,038. Precipitation totals 23.5 inches a year, most in May (3.1") and least in January (1.0"); May to September bring 55% of it.

The nearest other station, Paint Rock, TX, 17 miles south of Ballinger, has a last frost 8 days later (March 30), a first frost 5 days earlier (November 5), a season 11 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 10 of 30 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Ballinger 2 NW, TX, 2.5 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 76821 is 3 miles from Ballinger 2 NW, TX, which stands at 1,755 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 76821 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.