YardThisWeek

Frost dates for ZIP 77023 (Houston, TX)

Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Houston-port, TX (3 miles away).

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLight blue: spring freeze risk (90% to 10%). Tan: fall freeze risk (10% to 90%). Dark lines: 50% dates.

Last spring frost odds

Chance of a 32°F freeze after this dateDate
90% (early: most years still freeze after this)Dec 31 (prior Dec)
50% (the "average" last frost)Feb 2
10% (safe-side: only 1 year in 10 freezes later)Mar 5

Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.

First fall frost odds

Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this dateDate
10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon)Nov 27
50% (the "average" first frost)Dec 25
90% (late: most years have frozen by now)Jan 21 (next year)

Light frost, freeze and hard freeze

ThresholdLast spring (50%)First fall (50%)
36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights)Feb 24Dec 2
32°F (freeze)Feb 2Dec 25
28°F (hard freeze)Jan 23Jan 5 (next year)

n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).

This week in Houston

Soil temperature now

2-inch depth

68°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 69°F, as of Oct 17, 8:00 PM CDT

30°50°55°70°90°

Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Prairie View #1 (47 mi).

4-inch depth

71°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 71°F, as of Oct 17, 8:00 PM CDT

30°50°55°70°90°

Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Prairie View #1 (47 mi).

Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.

7-day forecast and frost risk

No frost in the 7-day forecast.

PeriodHighLowForecast
Tonight54°Mostly Clear
Sunday74°58°Sunny
Monday79°62°Mostly Sunny
Tuesday82°63°Mostly Sunny
Wednesday86°63°Sunny
Thursday88°64°Sunny
Friday89°66°Sunny

National Weather Service forecast, issued Oct 17, 8:28 PM CDT. Frost can form above 32°F on clear, calm nights. Full NWS forecast.

Where these numbers come from

Station: Houston-port, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00414326), elevation 19 ft, 2.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).

Nearby stations

StationDistanceLast frost (50%)First frost (50%)
Houston Hobby AP, TX6 miJan 30Dec 28
Houston Clover Fld, TX15 miJan 31Dec 27
Houston Intercont AP, TX18 miFeb 13Dec 9

The average last-frost dates of these stations span 14 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.

Questions

When is the last frost in 77023?

The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 77023 is February 2. For a safer planting date, use March 5, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.

When is the first frost in 77023?

The average first fall freeze is December 25. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 27.

What hardiness zone is 77023?

ZIP 77023 is in USDA zone 9b (25 to 30°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.

Other ZIP codes in Harris County

77002 77003 77004 77005 77006 77007 77008 77009 77010 77011 77012 77013 77014 77015 77016 77017 77018 77019 77020 77021 77022 77024 77025 77026 All Harris County ZIPs