Frost Dates for 79761 — Odessa, Texas

Half of springs at Odessa, TX see their last 32°F night by March 15; only one in ten is past it by February 25, and one in ten still has one after April 9. Planting tender crops after March 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 1 20%, and after April 9 10%. The 25 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 82% 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 November 1 one year in ten, and holds off past December 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 26; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 27, 13 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 268 days one year in ten and falls short of 216 one year in ten. On average 44 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 2, and return around November 6. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 54%.

July is the warmest month at Odessa, TX, averaging 94°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 57°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 October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 80% of years and April still brings one in 22% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,904 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 77% of the 351 Texas stations. 43% of them (2,521) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,004. Precipitation totals 12.3 inches a year, most in May (1.6") and least in February (0.5"); May to September bring 59% of it.

The nearest other station, Odessa Schlemeyer Field, TX, 5 miles north of Odessa, has a last frost 4 days later (March 19), a first frost 5 days earlier (November 11), a season 8 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 5 of 27 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Odessa, TX, 1.7 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 79761 is 2 miles from Odessa, TX, which stands at 2,910 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 79762 (Odessa). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 79761 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.