U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USW00003904 · Texas

Frost Dates for College Station, TX

NOAA weather station College Station (USW00003904), Texas · elevation 305 ft (93 m) · hardiness zone 9a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter March 18only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostFebruary 2750% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 3050% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season278 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone9acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at College Station, TXSpring: a frost after January 31 in 9 years out of 10, after February 27 in half of the years, after March 18 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before November 10 in 1 year out of 10, before November 30 in half of the years, before December 26 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 278 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Feb 27First frost ~Nov 30Frost season at College Station, TXSpring: a frost after January 31 in 9 years out of 10, after February 27 in half of the years, after March 18 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before November 10 in 1 year out of 10, before November 30 in half of the years, before December 26 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 278 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Feb 27First frost ~Nov 30
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 26 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)March 18November 10
50% (typical)February 27November 30
90% (likely)January 31December 26
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
278 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
February 7
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
December 18

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost February 26 (1 day earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 29 (1 day earlier). Frost-free season 281 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 College Station: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% March 18, 20% March 12, 30% March 6, 40% March 3, 50% February 27, 60% February 22, 70% February 16, 80% February 8, 90% January 31. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 February 20, 2022 March 12, 2023 February 4, 2024 February 18, 2025 February 21, 2026 March 17.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Feb 1Mar 1Apr 1Mar 18Feb 27Jan 312021: February 202022: March 122023: February 42024: February 182025: February 212026: March 17Fall at College Station: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% November 10, 20% November 17, 30% November 22, 40% November 26, 50% November 30, 60% December 3, 70% December 8, 80% December 15, 90% December 26. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 January 2, 2022 December 22, 2023 December 11, 2024 December 11, 2025 December 15.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Jan 1Nov 10Nov 30Dec 262021: January 22022: December 222023: December 112024: December 112025: December 15
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
2021February 20January 2
2022March 12December 22
2023February 4December 11
2024February 18December 11
2025February 21December 15
2026March 17season not over yet

What these dates mean

The 278 days between the 32°F 50% dates in College Station frame the period in which light frosts are unlikely, providing the main window for tender gardening. The 50% spring date is February 27 and the 50% fall date is November 30; each marks the point where the odds of a 32°F light frost are 50% for that season. For a cautious spring plan the date to set out tender crops is March 18, which carries a 10% chance of a later frost. The cautious fall date to finish harvesting tender crops is November 10, which carries a 10% chance of a frost having arrived earlier. Hard frosts at 28°F, with median dates of February 7 in spring and December 18 in fall, can injure plants that survive a 32°F light frost, so they represent a greater risk.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after March 18" 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 10" 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 College Station, TXNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Brenham, TX — 30 mi; 2 — Madisonville, TX — 36 mi; 3 — Lexington, TX — 41 mi; 4 — Centerville, TX — 52 mi; 5 — Elgin, TX — 62 mi.TX25 mi · 40 km1. Brenham, TX — 30 mi12. Madisonville, TX — 36 mi23. Lexington, TX — 41 mi34. Centerville, TX — 52 mi45. Elgin, TX — 62 mi5
  1. Brenham, TX 30 mi (48 km)
  2. Madisonville, TX 36 mi (58 km)
  3. Lexington, TX 41 mi (65 km)
  4. Centerville, TX 52 mi (83 km)
  5. Elgin, TX 62 mi (100 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 9a: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 30.5892, -96.3647.