Frost Dates for 77861 — Iola, Texas

Half of springs at Madisonville, TX see their last 32°F night by March 16; only one in ten is past it by February 23, and one in ten still has one after April 7. Planting tender crops after March 26 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 31 20%, and after April 7 10%. The 22 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 63% 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 11 in half of years, as early as October 25 one year in ten, and holds off past December 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 25, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 240 days in a typical year, shorter than at 61% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 269 days one year in ten and falls short of 214 one year in ten. On average 35 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 31, and return around November 2. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 97% of winters and 16°F in 37%.

August is the warmest month at Madisonville, TX, averaging 96°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 62°F and 37°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 78% of years and April still brings one in 20% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,636 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 60% of the 351 Texas stations. 41% of them (2,742) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 1,043. Precipitation totals 46.9 inches a year, most in May (4.9") and least in July (2.9"); May to September bring 40% of it.

The nearest other station, College Stn, TX, 20 miles southwest of Iola, has a last frost 17 days earlier (February 27), a first frost 19 days later (November 30), a season 38 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 2 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Madisonville, TX, 16.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 77861 is 17 miles from Madisonville, TX, which stands at 252 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 77864 (Madisonville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 77861 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.