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USDA Hardiness Zone 8a

Frost Dates for 79501 — Anson, Texas

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Anson, TX (1,717 ft), under a mile north.

Updated

In Anson, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 31 in half of years and has passed by April 15 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 6, as early as October 23 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 221 days (NOAA, Anson, TX).

Last spring frost
March 31

50% probability

First fall frost
November 6

50% probability

Growing season
221 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8a

10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night

First snow
December 22

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
February 6

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
70%

19 of 27 observed

Snow per year
3.8"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Anson

Half of springs at Anson, TX see their last 32°F night by March 31; only one in ten is past it by March 11, and one in ten still has one after April 15. Planting tender crops after April 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 9 20%, and after April 15 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 94% of the 339 Texas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 6 in half of years, as early as October 23 one year in ten, and holds off past November 22 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 16; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 4, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 221 days in a typical year, shorter than at 86% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 247 days one year in ten and falls short of 199 one year in ten. On average 56 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 9 days longer, to about April 9, and return around October 29. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 88%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 25Mar 31Apr 4Apr 6Apr 9Apr 13Apr 16Apr 20Apr 25
32°FMar 11Mar 17Mar 23Mar 27Mar 31Apr 3Apr 6Apr 9Apr 15
28°FFeb 27Mar 5Mar 9Mar 13Mar 17Mar 22Mar 27Mar 31Apr 4
24°FFeb 12Feb 20Feb 26Mar 2Mar 5Mar 9Mar 12Mar 18Mar 27
20°F99% of yrsJan 22Feb 1Feb 8Feb 14Feb 21Feb 27Mar 2Mar 6Mar 11
16°F88% of yrsDec 31Jan 14Jan 24Jan 31Feb 5Feb 10Feb 17Feb 26Mar 4
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 16Oct 20Oct 24Oct 27Oct 29Nov 1Nov 2Nov 6Nov 10
32°FOct 23Oct 29Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 9Nov 12Nov 16Nov 22
28°FNov 1Nov 5Nov 9Nov 12Nov 16Nov 19Nov 24Nov 29Dec 3
24°FNov 9Nov 14Nov 19Nov 24Nov 28Dec 1Dec 4Dec 9Dec 18
20°F99% of yrsNov 19Nov 26Dec 1Dec 6Dec 10Dec 17Dec 24Jan 1Jan 8
16°F88% of yrsDec 2Dec 9Dec 15Dec 23Dec 29Jan 3Jan 11Jan 22Feb 6

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Anson, 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 79501 →Compare Anson with another place →

Weather by month in Anson

July is the warmest month at Anson, TX, averaging 96°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 57°F and 29°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 48% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,860 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 79% of the 351 Texas stations. 40% of them (2,347) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,032. Precipitation totals 25.6 inches a year, most in June (3.6") and least in January (1.0"); May to September bring 56% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Anson, TX
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan57291.0100%1745
Feb62331.4100%1279
Mar69401.595%5213
Apr78492.048%1423
May86593.30%0687
Jun93673.60%0900
Jul96712.50%01032
Aug95712.60%01018
Sep88632.30%0761
Oct79512.528%<1471
Nov67401.595%6177
Dec58321.4100%1555

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Anson, TX (1,717 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, Stamford 1, TX, 14 miles north of Anson, has a last frost 8 days earlier (March 23), a first frost 5 days later (November 11), a season 13 days longer.

Frost dates for 79553 (Stamford) →

When it snows in Anson, Texas

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Anson usually arrives around December 22, and the last of the season around February 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Anson, TX, 0.9 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 70% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 53 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 79501

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Anson, Texas
WhenWhat to do
January 20 – February 3Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 3 – February 17Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 3 – March 17Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 31 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 14Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 23Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 6 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 79501 is under a mile from Anson, TX, which stands at 1,717 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 79525 (Hawley). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 79501 in zone 8a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°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 8a places in Texas