Frost Dates for 78003 — Bandera, Texas

Half of springs at Medina 1NE, 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 6. Planting tender crops after March 25 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 31 20%, and after April 6 10%. The 21 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 50% 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 15 in half of years, as early as October 31 one year in ten, and holds off past December 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around November 29; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 21, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 244 days in a typical year, shorter than at 55% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 273 days one year in ten and falls short of 216 one year in ten. On average 44 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 17 days longer, to about April 2, and return around November 5. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 96% of winters and 16°F in 32%.

August is the warmest month at Medina 1NE, TX, averaging 96°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 63°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 77% of years and April still brings one in 20% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,439 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 52% of the 351 Texas stations. 42% of them (2,696) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 1,004. Precipitation totals 36.2 inches a year, most in May (5.5") and least in February (1.8"); May to September bring 52% of it.

The nearest other station, Boerne, TX, 21 miles east of Bandera and 267 feet lower, has a last frost 1 day earlier (March 15), a first frost 2 days earlier (November 13), a season 1 day shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 5 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Medina 1NE, TX, 12.7 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 78003 is 13 miles from Medina 1NE, TX, which stands at 1,712 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 78003 in zone 8b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.