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Frost Dates in Texas
First and last frost dates across Texas, computed from 273 NOAA weather stations (1991–2020 climate normals). Your exact date depends on your city and microclimate — use the ZIP lookup on the main tool for a station-specific answer.
Last spring frost
Mar 16
statewide median · range Jan 6–Apr 28
First fall frost
Nov 14
statewide median · range Oct 15–Jan 8
Growing season
243 days
median · range 170–365
Stations used
273
NOAA 1991–2020 normals
Frost dates by city
Median dates from the nearest NOAA station to each city. The "cautious" date is the 10% spring value — planting after it means only a ~10% chance of a later frost.
| City | Nearest station | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Growing season | Safe transplant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | Houston William P Hobby Ap · 9 mi | Jan 30 (cautious: Mar 1) | Dec 28 | 330 days | Feb 13 |
| Dallas | Dallas Faa Ap · 5 mi | Mar 2 (cautious: Mar 19) | Nov 29 | 272 days | Mar 16 |
| Austin | Austin-Camp Mabry · 4 mi | Feb 20 (cautious: Mar 14) | Dec 3 | 291 days | Mar 6 |
| San Antonio | San Antonio Kelly Afb · 6 mi | Feb 22 (cautious: Mar 12) | Dec 2 | 284 days | Mar 8 |
| El Paso | El Paso Intl Ap · 7 mi | Mar 2 (cautious: Mar 19) | Nov 20 | 261 days | Mar 16 |
How frost varies across Texas
Spring frost timing spans about 112 days across the state. Brownsville in southeastern Texas typically sees its last spring frost around January 6, while Dalhart in northwestern Texas doesn't clear frost until about April 28. Within any city, low spots and valleys run colder than the station average; areas near buildings and pavement run warmer.
When to plant in Texas
As a rule of thumb, cool-season crops (lettuce, peas, spinach) can go in 2–4 weeks before your last spring frost; warm-season transplants (tomatoes, peppers) should wait about 2 weeks after it — around March 30 for the statewide median. Check your city's row above rather than the statewide median: a 112-day statewide spread makes the city-level date the one that matters.
These are climate normals (what's typical), not forecasts. For the current year, watch the 10-day forecast around your planting date.
How this is computed
Statewide medians are the median of the 273 NOAA stations' median frost dates — half the stations run earlier, half later. City rows use the nearest station with 30-year freeze records. Dates are 32°F freeze probabilities from NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals; nothing is estimated or interpolated.
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Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost date in Texas?
The statewide median last spring frost is March 16, but it ranges from January 6 to April 28 depending on where in the state you are. Use your city's row in the table above, or the ZIP lookup on the main tool, for a station-specific date.
When can I plant tomatoes outside in Texas?
Warm-season transplants like tomatoes should wait about two weeks after your last spring frost — around March 30 for the statewide median. Your city may differ by weeks; check the "safe transplant" column in the city table.
How long is the growing season in Texas?
The median growing season across 273 NOAA stations is 243 days, ranging from 170 to 365 days by location.
Why do frost dates vary so much within Texas?
Frost timing follows latitude, elevation, and local terrain. Across Texas, last spring frost dates span about 112 days — from around January 6 near Brownsville to April 28 near Dalhart. Microclimates (low spots, valleys, urban heat) shift dates further at the garden level.
Where does this data come from?
All frost dates are computed from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals freeze data (public domain), using each station's 32°F freeze probability statistics. No dates are estimated or interpolated.