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USDA Hardiness Zone 9a

Frost Dates for 77328 — Cleveland, Texas

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Liberty, TX (35 ft), 9 miles south.

Updated

In Cleveland, the last spring frost (32°F) is around February 21 in half of years and has passed by March 17 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around December 1, as early as November 9 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 286 days (NOAA, Liberty, TX).

Last spring frost
February 21

50% probability

First fall frost
December 1

50% probability

Growing season
286 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
9a

20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
5%

1 of 22 observed

Snow per year
0.2"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Cleveland

Half of springs at Liberty, TX see their last 32°F night by February 21; only one in ten is past it by January 22, and one in ten still has one after March 17. Planting tender crops after March 3 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 8 20%, and after March 17 10%. The 24 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 76% 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 December 1 in half of years, as early as November 9 one year in ten, and holds off past January 2 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 21 days later, around December 22; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 1, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 286 days in a typical year, longer than at 81% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 324 days one year in ten and falls short of 254 one year in ten. On average 14 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 15 days longer, to about March 8, and return around November 18. A 24°F night is unusual: 50% of winters had one.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FFeb 10Feb 21Feb 27Mar 3Mar 8Mar 12Mar 17Mar 24Mar 31
32°FJan 22Jan 31Feb 6Feb 15Feb 21Feb 26Mar 3Mar 8Mar 17
28°F90% of yrsDec 25Jan 6Jan 16Jan 24Jan 30Feb 3Feb 8Feb 19Mar 1
24°F50% of yrstoo rare for a date
20°F15% of yrstoo rare for a date
16°F2% of yrstoo rare for a date
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FNov 1Nov 6Nov 10Nov 15Nov 18Nov 23Nov 28Dec 2Dec 9
32°FNov 9Nov 17Nov 22Nov 26Dec 1Dec 5Dec 11Dec 22Jan 2
28°F90% of yrsNov 24Dec 1Dec 6Dec 13Dec 22Dec 29Jan 3Jan 8Jan 23
24°F50% of yrstoo rare for a date
20°F15% of yrstoo rare for a date
16°F2% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Liberty, 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 77328 →Compare Cleveland with another place →

Weather by month in Cleveland

August is the warmest month at Liberty, TX, averaging 94°F by day and 74°F at night; January is the coldest at 64°F and 41°F. From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 66% of years and March still brings one in 35% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 7,200 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 74% of the 351 Texas stations. 42% of them (3,056) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 1,049. Precipitation totals 62.8 inches a year, most in September (6.9") and least in February (3.9"); May to September bring 46% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Liberty, TX
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan64415.186%5157
Feb67453.966%2209
Mar74524.035%1399
Apr79584.60%0554
May86665.50%0795
Jun91726.10%0942
Jul93745.00%01039
Aug94745.50%01049
Sep90696.90%0883
Oct83596.31%<1645
Nov72494.748%1343
Dec65435.279%4184

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Liberty, TX (35 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, Cleveland, TX, 21 miles northwest of Cleveland and 161 feet higher, has a last frost 14 days later (March 7), a first frost 11 days earlier (November 20), a season 27 days shorter.

Frost dates for 77327 (Cleveland) →

When it snows in Cleveland, Texas

Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 22 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Liberty, TX, 9 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 77328

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Cleveland, Texas
WhenWhat to do
December 13 – December 27Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
December 27 – January 10Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
January 24 – February 7Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
February 21 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by September 8Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by November 17Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
December 1 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 77328 is 9 miles from Liberty, TX, which stands at 35 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 77535 (Dayton). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 77328 in zone 9a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°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.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 9a places in Texas