Frost Dates for 79603 — Abilene, Texas

Half of springs at Abilene Regional Airport, TX see their last 32°F night by March 20; only one in ten is past it by March 1, and one in ten still has one after April 10. Planting tender crops after March 29 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 2 20%, and after April 10 10%. The 21 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 50% 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 10 in half of years, as early as October 28 one year in ten, and holds off past November 28 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 23; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 28, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 236 days in a typical year, shorter than at 67% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 261 days one year in ten and falls short of 209 one year in ten. On average 48 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 April 3, and return around November 1. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 63%.

July is the warmest month at Abilene Regional Airport, TX, averaging 96°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 59°F and 34°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 88% of years and April still brings one in 24% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,433 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 52% of the 351 Texas stations. 41% of them (2,648) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,077. Precipitation totals 25.2 inches a year, most in June (3.4") and least in January (1.1"); May to September bring 54% of it.

The nearest other station, Abilene 6ESE, TX, 8 miles east of Abilene, has a last frost 12 days later (April 1), a first frost 5 days earlier (November 5), a season 18 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Abilene usually arrives around December 7, and the last of the season around February 11. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Abilene Regional Airport, TX, 6.4 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 80% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 37 days after the last snow.

ZIP 79603 is 6 miles from Abilene Regional Airport, TX, which stands at 1,790 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 79606 (Abilene). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 79603 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.