Frost Dates for 78738 — Austin, Texas

Half of springs at Dripping Springs 6 E, TX see their last 32°F night by March 17; only one in ten is past it by February 26, and one in ten still has one after April 7. Planting tender crops after March 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 2 20%, and after April 7 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 13 in half of years, as early as October 29 one year in ten, and holds off past December 4 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 26; 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 242 days in a typical year, shorter than at 58% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 269 days one year in ten and falls short of 216 one year in ten. On average 29 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 31, and return around November 4. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 97% of winters and 16°F in 35%.

August is the warmest month at Dripping Springs 6 E, TX, averaging 95°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 60°F and 39°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 79% of years and April still brings one in 22% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,729 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 63% of the 351 Texas stations. 42% of them (2,835) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 1,041. Precipitation totals 35.8 inches a year, most in May (4.3") and least in February (2.1"); May to September bring 44% of it.

The nearest other station, Austin-Camp Mabry, TX, 14 miles east of Austin and 414 feet lower, has a last frost 25 days earlier (February 20), a first frost 20 days later (December 3), a season 49 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 10 of 30 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Austin-Camp Mabry, TX, 13.7 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 78738 is 8 miles from Dripping Springs 6 E, TX, which stands at 1,084 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 6 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 78738 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.