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USDA Hardiness Zone 8a

Frost Dates for 76901 — San Angelo, Texas

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from San Angelo WFO, TX (1,890 ft), 7 miles south.

Updated

In San Angelo, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 22 in half of years and has passed by April 10 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 10, as early as October 28 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 233 days (NOAA, San Angelo WFO, TX).

Last spring frost
March 22

50% probability

First fall frost
November 10

50% probability

Growing season
233 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8a

10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night

First snow
January 10

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
February 6

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
65%

11 of 17 observed

Snow per year
1.3"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in San Angelo

Half of springs at San Angelo WFO, TX see their last 32°F night by March 22; only one in ten is past it by March 3, and one in ten still has one after April 10. Planting tender crops after March 31 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 4 20%, and after April 10 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 28 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 March 28, 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 260 days one year in ten and falls short of 208 one year in ten. On average 60 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 5, and return around November 2. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 59%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 18Mar 24Mar 31Apr 2Apr 5Apr 8Apr 12Apr 16Apr 21
32°FMar 3Mar 9Mar 13Mar 17Mar 22Mar 26Mar 31Apr 4Apr 10
28°FFeb 17Feb 25Mar 1Mar 4Mar 8Mar 11Mar 15Mar 19Mar 28
24°FJan 30Feb 8Feb 15Feb 21Feb 26Mar 1Mar 5Mar 9Mar 17
20°F93% of yrsJan 2Jan 16Jan 24Jan 31Feb 6Feb 14Feb 21Feb 28Mar 5
16°F59% of yrsDec 15Dec 31Jan 7Jan 15Jan 20Jan 27Feb 1Feb 9Feb 22
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 20Oct 25Oct 28Oct 31Nov 2Nov 4Nov 7Nov 10Nov 14
32°FOct 28Nov 1Nov 4Nov 7Nov 10Nov 13Nov 16Nov 21Nov 28
28°FNov 4Nov 9Nov 14Nov 17Nov 21Nov 25Nov 29Dec 3Dec 8
24°FNov 14Nov 19Nov 25Nov 29Dec 2Dec 6Dec 11Dec 18Dec 28
20°F93% of yrsNov 26Dec 2Dec 8Dec 13Dec 20Dec 28Jan 3Jan 11Jan 24
16°F59% of yrsDec 6Dec 13Dec 23Jan 1Jan 5Jan 10Jan 17Jan 24Feb 6

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at San Angelo WFO, TX, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 76901 →Compare San Angelo with another place →

Weather by month in San Angelo

July is the warmest month at San Angelo WFO, TX, averaging 96°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 60°F and 32°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 30% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,229 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 57% of the 351 Texas stations. 42% of them (2,607) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,032. Precipitation totals 21.1 inches a year, most in May (3.2") and least in January (0.9"); May to September bring 55% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at San Angelo WFO, TX
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan60320.9100%1860
Feb64361.2100%12120
Mar72431.690%5272
Apr81511.430%1479
May88613.20%0749
Jun93692.30%0928
Jul96711.20%01032
Aug95702.50%01020
Sep88642.40%0779
Oct80532.317%1508
Nov68411.291%7205
Dec61340.9100%1779

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at San Angelo WFO, TX (1,890 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, San Angelo, TX, 7 miles south of San Angelo, has a last frost 2 days earlier (March 20), the same first-frost date, a season 1 day shorter.

Frost dates for 76904 (San Angelo) →

When it snows in San Angelo, Texas

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in San Angelo usually arrives around January 10, and the last of the season around February 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at San Angelo WFO, TX, 7.3 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 65% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 44 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 76901

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for San Angelo, Texas
WhenWhat to do
January 11 – January 25Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 25 – February 8Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 22 – March 8Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 22 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 18Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 27Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 10 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 76901 is 7 miles from San Angelo WFO, TX, which stands at 1,890 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 76901 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.

Frost dates across Texas →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

Other zone 8a places in Texas