Frost Dates for 79720 — Big Spring, Texas

Half of springs at Big Spring, 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 7. Planting tender crops after March 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 2 20%, and after April 7 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 13 in half of years, as early as October 31 one year in ten, and holds off past November 29 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 24; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 29, 9 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 261 days one year in ten and falls short of 212 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 14 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 58%.

July is the warmest month at Big Spring, TX, averaging 96°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 58°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 89% of years and April still brings one in 25% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,091 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 67% of the 351 Texas stations. 41% of them (2,494) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,052. Precipitation totals 19.7 inches a year, most in May (2.5") and least in January (0.7"); May to September bring 58% of it.

The nearest other station, Midland 4 ENE, TX, 36 miles west of Big Spring and 266 feet higher, has a last frost 6 days later (March 26), a first frost 4 days earlier (November 9), a season 13 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 5 of 17 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Forsan, TX, 8.9 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 79720 is 2 miles from Big Spring, TX, which stands at 2,510 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 79720 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.