Frost Dates for 79904 — El Paso, Texas

Half of springs at El Paso International Airport, TX see their last 32°F night by March 2; only one in ten is past it by February 12, and one in ten still has one after March 19. Planting tender crops after March 9 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 13 20%, and after March 19 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 86% of the 339 Texas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 20 in half of years, as early as November 6 one year in ten, and holds off past December 2 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around December 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 7, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 261 days in a typical year, longer than at 65% of the 339 Texas stations; it reaches 284 days one year in ten and falls short of 237 one year in ten. On average 42 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 March 18, and return around November 10. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 97% of winters and 16°F in 19%.

July is the warmest month at El Paso International Airport, TX, averaging 96°F by day and 73°F at night; December is the coldest at 58°F and 34°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 53% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,347 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 52% of the 351 Texas stations. 43% of them (2,723) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,066. Precipitation totals 8.7 inches a year, most in August (1.7") and least in March (0.2"); May to September bring 68% of it.

The nearest other station, La Tuna 1 S, TX, 13 miles northwest of El Paso, has a last frost 2 days earlier (February 28), the same first-frost date, a season 3 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in El Paso usually arrives around December 6, and the last of the season around January 7. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at El Paso International Airport, TX, 4.8 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 74% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 54 days after the last snow.

ZIP 79904 is 5 miles from El Paso International Airport, TX, which stands at 3,918 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 19 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 79936 (El Paso). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 79904 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.