USDA Hardiness Zone 9a
Frost Dates for 78039 — Lacoste, Texas
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Lytle 3W, TX (722 ft), 6 miles south.
Updated
In Lacoste, the last spring frost (32°F) is around February 24 in half of years and has passed by March 14 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around December 2, as early as November 14 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 283 days (NOAA, Lytle 3W, TX).
- Last spring frost
- February 24
- First fall frost
- December 2
- Growing season
- 283 days
- Hardiness zone
- 9a
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C) coldest night
- First snow
- Rare
- Last snow
- Rare
- Winters with snow
- 0%
- Snow per year
- 0"
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
0 of 17 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Lacoste
Half of springs at Lytle 3W, TX see their last 32°F night by February 24; only one in ten is past it by January 23, and one in ten still has one after March 14. Planting tender crops after March 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 9 20%, and after March 14 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 75% of the 339 Texas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.
In fall the first 32°F night comes by December 2 in half of years, as early as November 14 one year in ten, and holds off past December 30 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 16 days later, around December 18; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 7, 7 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 283 days in a typical year, longer than at 79% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 320 days one year in ten and falls short of 253 one year in ten. On average 17 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 10 days longer, to about March 6, and return around November 21. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 61% of winters and 16°F in 3%.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Feb 15 | Feb 23 | Feb 28 | Mar 3 | Mar 6 | Mar 10 | Mar 14 | Mar 20 | Mar 27 |
| 32°F | Jan 23 | Feb 2 | Feb 12 | Feb 19 | Feb 24 | Feb 28 | Mar 4 | Mar 9 | Mar 14 |
| 28°F92% of yrs | Dec 26 | Jan 8 | Jan 20 | Jan 29 | Feb 4 | Feb 12 | Feb 20 | Feb 27 | Mar 7 |
| 24°F61% of yrs | Dec 14 | Dec 27 | Jan 2 | Jan 10 | Jan 21 | Feb 1 | Feb 7 | Feb 16 | Mar 1 |
| 20°F27% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
| 16°F3% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Nov 1 | Nov 6 | Nov 12 | Nov 16 | Nov 21 | Nov 25 | Nov 29 | Dec 4 | Dec 10 |
| 32°F | Nov 14 | Nov 21 | Nov 25 | Nov 30 | Dec 2 | Dec 6 | Dec 11 | Dec 19 | Dec 30 |
| 28°F92% of yrs | Nov 25 | Dec 1 | Dec 5 | Dec 10 | Dec 18 | Dec 24 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Jan 30 |
| 24°F61% of yrs | Dec 3 | Dec 9 | Dec 18 | Dec 24 | Dec 30 | Jan 4 | Jan 14 | Jan 30 | Feb 12 |
| 20°F27% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
| 16°F3% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Lytle 3W, 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 78039 →Compare Lacoste with another place →
Weather by month in Lacoste
July is the warmest month at Lytle 3W, TX, averaging 96°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 66°F and 42°F. From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 69% of years and March still brings one in 38% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 7,659 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 81% of the 351 Texas stations. 43% of them (3,328) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,076. Precipitation totals 29.7 inches a year, most in September (4.1") and least in December (1.6"); May to September bring 49% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66 | 42 | 1.7 | 86% | 6 | 180 |
| Feb | 70 | 45 | 1.9 | 69% | 3 | 236 |
| Mar | 77 | 52 | 2.2 | 38% | 1 | 454 |
| Apr | 83 | 59 | 2.3 | 0% | 0 | 637 |
| May | 87 | 67 | 3.4 | 0% | 0 | 831 |
| Jun | 94 | 72 | 3.0 | 0% | 0 | 991 |
| Jul | 96 | 73 | 2.1 | 0% | 0 | 1076 |
| Aug | 96 | 73 | 2.1 | 0% | 0 | 1072 |
| Sep | 91 | 69 | 4.1 | 0% | 0 | 903 |
| Oct | 84 | 60 | 3.4 | 2% | <1 | 687 |
| Nov | 74 | 51 | 1.9 | 42% | 2 | 392 |
| Dec | 67 | 43 | 1.6 | 82% | 5 | 202 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Lytle 3W, TX (722 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 Antonio/Seaworld, TX, 12 miles northeast of Lacoste and 218 feet higher, has a last frost 6 days earlier (February 18), a first frost 7 days later (December 9), a season 13 days longer.
When it snows in Lacoste, Texas
Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 17 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Lytle 3W, TX, 5.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.
Planting calendar for 78039
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| December 16 – December 30 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| December 30 – January 13 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| January 27 – February 10 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| February 24 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by September 9 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by November 18 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| December 2 onward | Plant 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 78039 is 6 miles from Lytle 3W, TX, which stands at 722 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 6 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 78016 (Devine). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 78039 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.
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.