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USDA Hardiness Zone 9a

Frost Dates for 78956 — Schulenburg, Texas

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Flatonia 4SE, TX (470 ft), 9 miles west.

Updated

In Schulenburg, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 2 in half of years and has passed by March 21 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 27, as early as November 8 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 271 days (NOAA, Flatonia 4SE, TX).

Last spring frost
March 2

50% probability

First fall frost
November 27

50% probability

Growing season
271 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
0%

0 of 25 observed

Snow per year
0"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Schulenburg

Half of springs at Flatonia 4SE, TX see their last 32°F night by March 2; only one in ten is past it by February 4, and one in ten still has one after March 21. Planting tender crops after March 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 15 20%, and after March 21 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 63% of the 339 Texas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 27 in half of years, as early as November 8 one year in ten, and holds off past December 18 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around December 9; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 12, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 271 days in a typical year, longer than at 71% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 305 days one year in ten and falls short of 245 one year in ten. On average 11 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 11 days longer, to about March 13, and return around November 15. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 84% of winters and 16°F in 12%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FFeb 23Mar 1Mar 5Mar 9Mar 13Mar 17Mar 22Mar 28Apr 2
32°FFeb 4Feb 15Feb 22Feb 27Mar 2Mar 6Mar 10Mar 15Mar 21
28°F99% of yrsJan 16Jan 26Feb 2Feb 8Feb 16Feb 22Feb 28Mar 5Mar 12
24°F84% of yrsDec 22Jan 7Jan 15Jan 22Jan 29Feb 4Feb 12Feb 22Mar 3
20°F44% of yrstoo rare for a date
16°F12% of yrstoo rare for a date
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 31Nov 4Nov 8Nov 12Nov 15Nov 19Nov 23Nov 28Dec 3
32°FNov 8Nov 14Nov 18Nov 22Nov 27Nov 30Dec 4Dec 10Dec 18
28°F99% of yrsNov 17Nov 24Nov 30Dec 4Dec 9Dec 15Dec 22Dec 31Jan 9
24°F84% of yrsNov 29Dec 6Dec 13Dec 19Dec 28Jan 3Jan 9Jan 20Feb 2
20°F44% of yrstoo rare for a date
16°F12% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Flatonia 4SE, 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 78956 →Compare Schulenburg with another place →

Weather by month in Schulenburg

August is the warmest month at Flatonia 4SE, TX, averaging 95°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 62°F and 40°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 85% of years and March still brings one in 55% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,871 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 65% of the 351 Texas stations. 42% of them (2,882) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 1,026. Precipitation totals 37.9 inches a year, most in May (4.4") and least in February (2.1"); May to September bring 44% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Flatonia 4SE, TX
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan62402.895%4135
Feb66442.185%2187
Mar72492.955%1351
Apr79573.30%0537
May85644.40%0763
Jun91703.80%0909
Jul94712.10%01014
Aug95712.80%01026
Sep90673.40%0850
Oct82584.43%0617
Nov71483.260%1320
Dec63422.794%3163

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Flatonia 4SE, TX (470 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, Hallettsville 2 N, TX, 15 miles south of Schulenburg and 195 feet lower, has a last frost 13 days earlier (February 17), a first frost 7 days later (December 4), a season 26 days longer.

Frost dates for 77964 (Hallettsville) →

When it snows in Schulenburg, Texas

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 25 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Schulenburg, TX, 3.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 78956

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Schulenburg, Texas
WhenWhat to do
December 22 – January 5Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 5 – January 19Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 2 – February 16Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 2 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by September 4Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by November 13Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 27 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 78956 is 9 miles from Flatonia 4SE, TX, which stands at 470 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 78956 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