Frost Dates for 79703 — Midland, Texas

Half of springs at Midland Odessa, TX see their last 32°F night by March 18; only one in ten is past it by February 28, and one in ten still has one after April 8. Planting tender crops after March 29 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 2 20%, and after April 8 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 14 in half of years, as early as November 1 one year in ten, and holds off past November 30 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 24; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 27, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 239 days in a typical year, shorter than at 62% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 264 days one year in ten and falls short of 212 one year in ten. On average 58 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 16 days longer, to about April 3, and return around November 5. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 49%.

July is the warmest month at Midland Odessa, TX, averaging 96°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 59°F and 33°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 85% of years and April still brings one in 24% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,345 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 52% of the 351 Texas stations. 43% of them (2,697) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,065. Precipitation totals 13.6 inches a year, most in June (1.8") and least in February (0.6"); May to September bring 62% of it.

The nearest other station, Midland 4 ENE, TX, 7 miles east of Midland, has a last frost 8 days later (March 26), a first frost 5 days earlier (November 9), a season 13 days shorter.

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, 4.5 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 47 days after the last snow.

ZIP 79703 is 5 miles from Midland Odessa, TX, which stands at 2,868 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 79707 (Midland). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 79703 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.