Frost Dates for 78950 — New Ulm, Texas

Half of springs at Columbus, TX see their last 32°F night by March 9; only one in ten is past it by February 13, and one in ten still has one after March 31. Planting tender crops after March 18 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 23 20%, and after March 31 10%. The 22 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 63% 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 20 in half of years, as early as November 1 one year in ten, and holds off past December 13 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around December 3; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 19, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 255 days in a typical year, longer than at 59% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 291 days one year in ten and falls short of 223 one year in ten. On average 30 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 23, and return around November 9. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 90% of winters and 16°F in 27%.

August is the warmest month at Columbus, TX, averaging 98°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 64°F and 39°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to 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 86% of years and March still brings one in 63% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 7,171 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 73% of the 351 Texas stations. 42% of them (3,031) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 1,062. Precipitation totals 45.1 inches a year, most in June (5.1") and least in February (2.8"); May to September bring 43% of it.

The nearest other station, Brenham, TX, 18 miles north of New Ulm, has a last frost 7 days earlier (March 2), a first frost 10 days later (November 30), a season 18 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Columbus, TX, 15.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 78950 is 15 miles from Columbus, TX, which stands at 225 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 78934 (Columbus). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 78950 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.