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USDA Hardiness Zone 9a

Frost Dates for 78665 — Round Rock, Texas

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Johnson City 2N, TX (1,137 ft), 6 miles northwest.

Updated

In Round Rock, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 22 in half of years and has passed by April 11 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 9, as early as October 25 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 235 days (NOAA, Johnson City 2N, TX).

Last spring frost
March 22

50% probability

First fall frost
November 9

50% probability

Growing season
235 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
26%

6 of 23 observed

Snow per year
0.2"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Round Rock

Half of springs at Johnson City 2N, TX see their last 32°F night by March 22; only one in ten is past it by February 27, and one in ten still has one after April 11. Planting tender crops after March 31 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 4 20%, and after April 11 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 51% 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 25 one year in ten, and holds off past November 30 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 22; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 28, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 235 days in a typical year, shorter than at 69% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 261 days one year in ten and falls short of 207 one year in ten. On average 42 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 13 days longer, to about April 4, and return around November 1. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 52%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 14Mar 23Mar 28Mar 31Apr 4Apr 8Apr 13Apr 18Apr 24
32°FFeb 27Mar 5Mar 11Mar 16Mar 22Mar 27Mar 31Apr 4Apr 11
28°FFeb 11Feb 22Feb 27Mar 2Mar 6Mar 10Mar 15Mar 20Mar 28
24°F99% of yrsJan 19Jan 29Feb 5Feb 12Feb 22Feb 27Mar 3Mar 8Mar 15
20°F89% of yrsDec 26Jan 5Jan 15Jan 23Jan 29Feb 3Feb 11Feb 24Mar 5
16°F52% of yrsDec 16Dec 28Jan 4Jan 9Jan 15Jan 22Jan 29Feb 4Feb 18
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 17Oct 21Oct 25Oct 29Nov 1Nov 2Nov 5Nov 10Nov 16
32°FOct 25Oct 31Nov 2Nov 5Nov 9Nov 12Nov 17Nov 22Nov 30
28°FNov 2Nov 7Nov 12Nov 17Nov 22Nov 27Dec 2Dec 6Dec 15
24°F99% of yrsNov 11Nov 20Nov 26Dec 1Dec 6Dec 10Dec 17Dec 25Jan 3
20°F89% of yrsNov 26Dec 3Dec 9Dec 16Dec 23Dec 29Jan 3Jan 11Jan 26
16°F52% of yrsDec 6Dec 14Dec 23Dec 30Jan 3Jan 6Jan 13Jan 20Feb 4

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Johnson City 2N, 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 78665 →Compare Round Rock with another place →

Weather by month in Round Rock

August is the warmest month at Johnson City 2N, TX, averaging 97°F by day and 71°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 29% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,614 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 59% of the 351 Texas stations. 42% of them (2,750) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 1,045. Precipitation totals 33.2 inches a year, most in May (4.0") and least in December (1.9"); May to September bring 45% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Johnson City 2N, TX
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan62352.3100%1496
Feb66392.098%8142
Mar73472.682%3330
Apr80532.829%<1497
May86634.00%0761
Jun92693.20%0924
Jul96712.20%01037
Aug97712.20%01045
Sep90643.40%0818
Oct82543.621%1564
Nov71453.087%5277
Dec64371.999%12124

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Johnson City 2N, TX (1,137 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, Blanco, TX, 9 miles south of Round Rock and 173 feet higher, has a last frost 2 days earlier (March 20), a first frost 1 day later (November 10), a season 1 day longer.

Frost dates for 78606 (Blanco) →

When it snows in Round Rock, Texas

Measurable snow is rare here: only 6 of 23 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Johnson City 2N, TX, 6.3 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 78665

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Round Rock, Texas
WhenWhat to do
January 11 – January 25Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 25 – February 8Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 22 – March 8Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 22 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 78665 is 6 miles from Johnson City 2N, TX, which stands at 1,137 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 78665 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