Frost Dates for 79731 — Crane, Texas

Half of springs at Crane, TX see their last 32°F night by March 16; only one in ten is past it by February 26, and one in ten still has one after April 8. Planting tender crops after March 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 2 20%, and after April 8 10%. The 23 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 72% 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 16 in half of years, as early as October 31 one year in ten, and holds off past December 2 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 25; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 21, 18 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 243 days in a typical year, shorter than at 56% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 270 days one year in ten and falls short of 214 one year in ten. On average 49 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 18 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 60%.

July is the warmest month at Crane, TX, averaging 95°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 60°F and 32°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 77% of years and April still brings one in 22% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,499 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 56% of the 351 Texas stations. 43% of them (2,770) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,060. Precipitation totals 12.0 inches a year, most in September (1.7") and least in February (0.5"); May to September bring 55% of it.

The nearest other station, Crane 10N, TX, 20 miles north of Crane and 373 feet higher, has a last frost 1 day earlier (March 15), a first frost 4 days earlier (November 12), a season 1 day shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 10 of 25 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Crane, TX, 1.3 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 79731 is 1 mile from Crane, TX, which stands at 2,554 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 79731 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.