Frost Dates for 79701 — Midland, Texas

Half of springs at Midland 4 ENE, TX see their last 32°F night by March 26; only one in ten is past it by March 4, and one in ten still has one after April 15. Planting tender crops after April 3 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 8 20%, and after April 15 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 51% of the 339 Texas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 9 in half of years, as early as October 25 one year in ten, and holds off past November 24 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 18; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 2, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 226 days in a typical year, shorter than at 80% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 251 days one year in ten and falls short of 200 one year in ten. On average 54 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 12 days longer, to about April 7, and return around October 31. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 73%.

July is the warmest month at Midland 4 ENE, TX, averaging 95°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 60°F and 31°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November 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 90% of years and April still brings one in 36% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,060 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 68% of the 351 Texas stations. 43% of them (2,592) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,007. Precipitation totals 13.9 inches a year, most in September (1.9") and least in February (0.5"); May to September bring 60% of it.

The nearest other station, Midland Odessa, TX, 7 miles southwest of Midland, has a last frost 8 days earlier (March 18), a first frost 5 days later (November 14), a season 13 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Midland usually arrives around December 15, and the last of the season around January 30. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Midland Odessa, TX, 7.3 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 87% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 55 days after the last snow.

ZIP 79701 is 4 miles from Midland 4 ENE, TX, which stands at 2,776 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 79705 (Midland). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 79701 in zone 8b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.