Frost Dates for 76857 — May, Texas

Half of springs at Rising Star 1S, TX see their last 32°F night by March 26; only one in ten is past it by March 3, and one in ten still has one after April 14. Planting tender crops after April 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 6 20%, and after April 14 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 10 in half of years, as early as October 29 one year in ten, and holds off past November 28 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 21; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 2, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 230 days in a typical year, shorter than at 76% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 256 days one year in ten and falls short of 204 one year in ten. On average 57 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 11 days longer, to about April 6, and return around November 1. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 69%.

July is the warmest month at Rising Star 1S, TX, averaging 94°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 57°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 90% of years and April still brings one in 36% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,748 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 83% of the 351 Texas stations. 40% of them (2,274) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,001. Precipitation totals 31.6 inches a year, most in May (5.0") and least in January (1.3"); May to September bring 53% of it.

The nearest other station, Brownwood 2ENE, TX, 12 miles south of May and 239 feet lower, has a last frost 4 days earlier (March 22), the same first-frost date, a season 3 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 6 of 16 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Rising Star 1S, TX, 11.3 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 76857 is 11 miles from Rising Star 1S, TX, which stands at 1,633 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 76857 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.