Frost Dates for 78629 — Gonzales, Texas

Half of springs at Gonzales 2S, TX see their last 32°F night by February 26; only one in ten is past it by January 30, and one in ten still has one after March 21. Planting tender crops after March 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 12 20%, and after March 21 10%. The 23 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 72% 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 28 in half of years, as early as November 7 one year in ten, and holds off past December 20 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around December 12; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 6, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 272 days in a typical year, longer than at 72% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 308 days one year in ten and falls short of 243 one year in ten. On average 19 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 March 12, and return around November 16. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 66% of winters and 16°F in 4%.

August is the warmest month at Gonzales 2S, TX, averaging 96°F by day and 74°F at night; January is the coldest at 62°F and 40°F. A freezing night is all but certain in January (a 90% chance or more). From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 78% of years and March still brings one in 44% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 7,170 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 73% of the 351 Texas stations. 42% of them (3,012) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 1,076. Precipitation totals 36.0 inches a year, most in May (4.7") and least in July (2.0"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Luling, TX, 17 miles northwest of Gonzales, has a last frost 7 days later (March 5), a first frost 5 days earlier (November 23), a season 9 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 25 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Gonzales 2S, TX, 2.5 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 78629 is 3 miles from Gonzales 2S, TX, which stands at 296 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 78629 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.