YardThisWeek

Frost dates for ZIP 78566 (Brownsville, 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, Port Isabel Cameron AP, TX (3 miles away).

Freezes are uncommon here

NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 35% of years (about 1 freezing night(s) a year on average). The dates below describe freeze timing for the station's record; in many years there may be no 32°F freeze at all.

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 16 (prior Dec)
50% (the "average" last frost)Jan 8
10% (safe-side: only 1 year in 10 freezes later)Feb 7

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)Dec 10
50% (the "average" first frost)Jan 4 (next year)
90% (late: most years have frozen by now)Feb 4 (next year)

Light frost, freeze and hard freeze

ThresholdLast spring (50%)First fall (50%)
36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights)Jan 22Dec 29
32°F (freeze)Jan 8Jan 4 (next year)
28°F (hard freeze)n/an/a

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 Brownsville

Soil temperature now

2-inch depth

70°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 72°F, as of Oct 17, 7:00 PM CDT

30°50°55°70°90°

Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station Russell Farms, 11 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 81°, Fri 78°.

4-inch depth

71°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 73°F, as of Oct 17, 7:00 PM CDT

30°50°55°70°90°

Measured at TexMesonet (TWDB) station Russell Farms, 11 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 82°, Fri 78°.

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
Tonight58°Partly Cloudy
Sunday78°66°Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers
Monday82°70°Chance Rain Showers
Tuesday84°72°Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Wednesday85°70°Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Thursday85°68°Sunny
Friday86°71°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: Port Isabel Cameron AP, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00012957), elevation 19 ft, 3.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).

Nearby stations

StationDistanceLast frost (50%)First frost (50%)
Port Isabel, TX6 miJan 3Jan 1 (next year)
WFO Brownsville, TX15 miJan 9Jan 4 (next year)
Brownsville, TX15 miJan 6Jan 2 (next year)

The average last-frost dates of these stations span 6 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.

Questions

When is the last frost in 78566?

The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 78566 is January 8. For a safer planting date, use February 7, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.

When is the first frost in 78566?

The average first fall freeze is January 4 (next year). In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 10.

What hardiness zone is 78566?

ZIP 78566 is in USDA zone 10a (30 to 35°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.

Other ZIP codes in Cameron County

78520 78521 78526 78535 78550 78552 78559 78567 78575 78578 78583 78586 78592 78593 78597 All Cameron County ZIPs