Frost Dates for 79036 — Fritch, Texas

Half of springs at Sanford Dam, TX see their last 32°F night by April 20; only one in ten is past it by April 5, and one in ten still has one after May 4. Planting tender crops after April 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 30 20%, and after May 4 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 96% of the 339 Texas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 25 in half of years, as early as October 11 one year in ten, and holds off past November 4 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 7 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 26, 8 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 187 days in a typical year, shorter than at 98% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 205 days one year in ten and falls short of 166 one year in ten. On average 103 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 10 days longer, to about April 30, and return around October 15. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 29 and March 2.

July is the warmest month at Sanford Dam, TX, averaging 97°F by day and 66°F at night; January is the coldest at 52°F and 21°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 18% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,609 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 94% of the 351 Texas stations. 37% of them (1,688) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 964. Precipitation totals 19.3 inches a year, most in June (3.0") and least in February (0.5"); May to September bring 63% of it.

The nearest other station, Borger, TX, 12 miles east of Fritch, has a last frost 8 days earlier (April 12), a first frost 3 days later (October 28), a season 11 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Fritch usually arrives around November 29, and the last of the season around March 19. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Borger, TX, 12.3 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 32 days after the last snow.

ZIP 79036 is 7 miles from Sanford Dam, TX, which stands at 2,936 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 79036 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.