Frost Dates for 79403 — Lubbock, Texas

Half of springs at Lubbock, TX see their last 32°F night by April 4; only one in ten is past it by March 17, and one in ten still has one after April 22. Planting tender crops after April 12 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 17 20%, and after April 22 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 75% of the 339 Texas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 2 in half of years, as early as October 19 one year in ten, and holds off past November 14 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 11; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 10, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 210 days in a typical year, shorter than at 91% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 233 days one year in ten and falls short of 189 one year in ten. On average 84 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 April 15, and return around October 24. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 96% of winters, usually between December 18 and February 6.

July is the warmest month at Lubbock, TX, averaging 93°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 55°F and 27°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 62% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,167 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 91% of the 351 Texas stations. 40% of them (2,084) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 967. Precipitation totals 18.5 inches a year, most in May (2.7") and least in January (0.7"); May to September bring 63% of it.

The nearest other station, Lubbock WFO, TX, 7 miles southwest of Lubbock, has a last frost 11 days earlier (March 24), a first frost 9 days later (November 11), a season 23 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Lubbock usually arrives around December 3, and the last of the season around March 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Lubbock, TX, 2.7 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 29 days after the last snow.

ZIP 79403 is 3 miles from Lubbock, TX, which stands at 3,259 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 79415 (Lubbock). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 79403 in zone 7b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.