U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00411578 · Texas

Frost Dates for Center, TX

NOAA weather station Center (USC00411578), Texas · elevation 325 ft (99 m) · hardiness zone 8b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 4only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMarch 1350% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 1550% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season248 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone8bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Center, TXSpring: a frost after February 22 in 9 years out of 10, after March 13 in half of the years, after April 4 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before November 1 in 1 year out of 10, before November 15 in half of the years, before December 4 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 248 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Mar 13First frost ~Nov 15Frost season at Center, TXSpring: a frost after February 22 in 9 years out of 10, after March 13 in half of the years, after April 4 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before November 1 in 1 year out of 10, before November 15 in half of the years, before December 4 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 248 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Mar 13First frost ~Nov 15
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 29 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 4November 1
50% (typical)March 13November 15
90% (likely)February 22December 4
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
248 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
February 28
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 28

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost March 11 (2 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 14 (1 day earlier). Frost-free season 248 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 Center: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 4, 20% March 29, 30% March 22, 40% March 17, 50% March 13, 60% March 8, 70% March 4, 80% February 28, 90% February 22.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Mar 1Apr 1Apr 4Mar 13Feb 22Fall at Center: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% November 1, 20% November 4, 30% November 7, 40% November 11, 50% November 15, 60% November 19, 70% November 24, 80% November 29, 90% December 4.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Nov 1Nov 15Dec 4
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.

What these dates mean

April 4 is the cautious spring date for tender crops in Center, Texas, signalling only a 10 % chance of a light frost later, so a gardener can safely set out tender crops after this day.

The 50% date is March 13, marking an even odds of a light frost later in spring, and the 50% hard-frost date is February 28. In fall, the 50% date is November 15, indicating an even odds of a light frost earlier, and the 50% hard-frost date is November 28. The cautious fall date is November 1, when only a 10 % chance of a light frost has occurred, allowing a gardener to finish harvesting tender crops.

A hard frost at 28 °F can injure or kill plants that would survive a 32 °F light frost, making it a more serious threat.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after April 4" 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 November 1" 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 Center, TXNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Carthage, TX — 27 mi; 2 — Nacogdoches, TX — 31 mi; 3 — Henderson, TX — 45 mi; 4 — near Longview, TX — 47 mi; 5 — Marshall, TX — 48 mi.TXLA25 mi · 40 km1. Carthage, TX — 27 mi12. Nacogdoches, TX — 31 mi23. Henderson, TX — 45 mi34. near Longview, TX — 47 mi45. Marshall, TX — 48 mi5
  1. Carthage, TX 27 mi (43 km)
  2. Nacogdoches, TX 31 mi (50 km)
  3. Henderson, TX 45 mi (73 km)
  4. near Longview, TX 47 mi (76 km)
  5. Marshall, TX 48 mi (77 km)

Sources

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

Station coordinates: 31.8075, -94.1642.