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USDA Hardiness Zone 9a

Frost Dates for 77835 — Burton, Texas

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Somerville Dam, TX (263 ft), 12 miles north.

Updated

In Burton, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 18 in half of years and has passed by April 6 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 9, as early as October 26 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 238 days (NOAA, Somerville Dam, TX).

Last spring frost
March 18

50% probability

First fall frost
November 9

50% probability

Growing season
238 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
0%

0 of 20 observed

Snow per year
0"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Burton

Half of springs at Somerville Dam, TX see their last 32°F night by March 18; only one in ten is past it by February 25, and one in ten still has one after April 6. Planting tender crops after March 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 1 20%, and after April 6 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 9 in half of years, as early as October 26 one year in ten, and holds off past November 30 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around November 23; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 24, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 238 days in a typical year, shorter than at 65% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 267 days one year in ten and falls short of 211 one year in ten. On average 37 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 1, and return around November 1. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 43%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 12Mar 19Mar 24Mar 28Apr 1Apr 4Apr 8Apr 13Apr 20
32°FFeb 25Mar 3Mar 9Mar 14Mar 18Mar 22Mar 27Apr 1Apr 6
28°FFeb 4Feb 16Feb 24Mar 1Mar 5Mar 8Mar 12Mar 17Mar 24
24°F99% of yrsJan 17Jan 27Feb 1Feb 7Feb 16Feb 23Mar 1Mar 7Mar 13
20°F85% of yrsDec 31Jan 8Jan 16Jan 22Jan 27Jan 31Feb 7Feb 17Mar 1
16°F43% 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°FOct 19Oct 23Oct 27Oct 29Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 11Nov 17
32°FOct 26Oct 31Nov 3Nov 6Nov 9Nov 14Nov 18Nov 24Nov 30
28°FNov 3Nov 9Nov 14Nov 19Nov 23Nov 27Dec 2Dec 6Dec 14
24°F99% of yrsNov 14Nov 22Nov 28Dec 2Dec 7Dec 13Dec 23Jan 1Jan 9
20°F85% of yrsNov 26Dec 5Dec 13Dec 24Jan 1Jan 4Jan 9Jan 15Jan 27
16°F43% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Somerville Dam, 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 77835 →Compare Burton with another place →

Weather by month in Burton

August is the warmest month at Somerville Dam, TX, averaging 98°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 62°F and 35°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 82% of years and April still brings one in 20% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,621 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 60% of the 351 Texas stations. 41% of them (2,709) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 1,051. Precipitation totals 40.9 inches a year, most in May (4.7") and least in July (1.9"); May to September bring 41% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Somerville Dam, TX
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan62353.2100%1393
Feb66392.996%7141
Mar73463.282%3312
Apr80533.320%<1490
May87624.70%0750
Jun93683.90%0922
Jul97701.90%01039
Aug98702.80%01051
Sep92643.40%0843
Oct83534.321%<1569
Nov72443.687%4283
Dec64373.799%11129

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Somerville Dam, TX (263 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, Brenham, TX, 13 miles east of Burton, has a last frost 16 days earlier (March 2), a first frost 21 days later (November 30), a season 35 days longer.

Frost dates for 77833 (Brenham) →

When it snows in Burton, Texas

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Somerville Dam, TX, 11.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 77835

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Burton, Texas
WhenWhat to do
January 7 – January 21Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 21 – February 4Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 18 – March 4Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 18 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 17Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 26Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 9 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 77835 is 12 miles from Somerville Dam, TX, which stands at 263 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 77836 (Caldwell). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 77835 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