U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USW00013962 · Texas

Frost Dates for Abilene, TX

NOAA weather station Abilene Regional Airport (USW00013962), Texas · elevation 1790 ft (546 m) · hardiness zone 8a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 10only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMarch 2050% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 1050% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season236 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone8acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Abilene, TXSpring: a frost after March 1 in 9 years out of 10, after March 20 in half of the years, after April 10 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 28 in 1 year out of 10, before November 10 in half of the years, before November 28 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 236 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Mar 20First frost ~Nov 10Frost season at Abilene, TXSpring: a frost after March 1 in 9 years out of 10, after March 20 in half of the years, after April 10 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 28 in 1 year out of 10, before November 10 in half of the years, before November 28 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 236 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Mar 20First frost ~Nov 10
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 28 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 10October 28
50% (typical)March 20November 10
90% (likely)March 1November 28
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
236 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 6
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 23

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost March 17 (3 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 7 (3 days earlier). Frost-free season 236 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at Abilene: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 10, 20% April 2, 30% March 29, 40% March 24, 50% March 20, 60% March 16, 70% March 12, 80% March 7, 90% March 1. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 21, 2022 March 24, 2023 March 19, 2024 February 18, 2025 March 20, 2026 March 17.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Mar 1Apr 1Apr 10Mar 20Mar 12021: April 212022: March 242023: March 192024: February 182025: March 202026: March 17Fall at Abilene: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 28, 20% November 2, 30% November 5, 40% November 7, 50% November 10, 60% November 13, 70% November 17, 80% November 21, 90% November 28. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 22, 2022 November 12, 2023 October 31, 2024 November 29, 2025 November 10.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Oct 28Nov 10Nov 282021: November 222022: November 122023: October 312024: November 292025: November 10
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there. ◆ marks the actual date in each recent year.

What actually happened in recent years

Observed dates of the last spring and first fall frost (32°F) at this station; ◆ marks them on the charts above
YearLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2021April 21November 22
2022March 24November 12
2023March 19October 31
2024February 18November 29
2025March 20November 10
2026March 17season not over yet

What these dates mean

The 236 days between the 32°F 50% dates in Abilene, Texas, define the window in which tender crops can be cultivated.

For a gardener, the 50% date of March 20 indicates a 50% chance of a light frost later than this date, while the 50% date of November 10 indicates a 50% chance of a light frost earlier than this date. A cautious spring plan uses the April 10 date, which carries only a 10 % chance of a frost later, whereas a cautious fall plan finishes tender crops by October 28, which carries only a 10 % chance of a frost earlier.

Hard frosts at 28°F are more damaging than 32°F light frosts because they can freeze plant tissue that survives milder temperatures; the 50% hard-frost dates are March 6 and November 23.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after April 10" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before October 28" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near Abilene, TXNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Putnam, TX — 29 mi; 2 — Wingate, TX — 35 mi; 3 — Stamford, TX — 37 mi; 4 — Ballinger, TX — 49 mi; 5 — Rotan, TX — 55 mi.25 mi · 40 km1. Putnam, TX — 29 mi12. Wingate, TX — 35 mi23. Stamford, TX — 37 mi34. Ballinger, TX — 49 mi45. Rotan, TX — 55 mi5
  1. Putnam, TX 29 mi (46 km)
  2. Wingate, TX 35 mi (57 km)
  3. Stamford, TX 37 mi (60 km)
  4. Ballinger, TX 49 mi (79 km)
  5. Rotan, TX 55 mi (88 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 8a: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 32.4106, -99.6822.