YardThisWeek

Frost dates for ZIP 78749 (Austin, 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, Austin 6S, TX (7 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)Feb 20
50% (the "average" last frost)Mar 10
10% (safe-side: only 1 year in 10 freezes later)Mar 31

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 1
50% (the "average" first frost)Nov 17
90% (late: most years have frozen by now)Dec 6

Light frost, freeze and hard freeze

ThresholdLast spring (50%)First fall (50%)
36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights)Mar 25Nov 6
32°F (freeze)Mar 10Nov 17
28°F (hard freeze)Feb 28Dec 1

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 Austin

Soil temperature now

2-inch depth

70°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 74°F, as of Oct 17, 7:00 PM CDT

30°50°55°70°90°

Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Pecan Grove Farms (21 mi), Jim Embree Williamson (26 mi), Texas State University Round Rock (27 mi).

4-inch depth

73°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 76°F, as of Oct 17, 7:00 PM CDT

30°50°55°70°90°

Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Pecan Grove Farms (21 mi), Jim Embree Williamson (26 mi), Texas State University Round Rock (27 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
Tonight47°Partly Cloudy
Sunday73°51°Sunny
Monday77°57°Mostly Sunny
Tuesday82°59°Sunny
Wednesday86°59°Sunny
Thursday88°61°Sunny
Friday89°63°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: Austin 6S, TX (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00410431), elevation 570 ft, 7.4 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).

Nearby stations

StationDistanceLast frost (50%)First frost (50%)
Dripping Springs 6 E, TX8 miMar 17Nov 13
Austin-camp Mabry, TX9 miFeb 20Dec 3
Austin Bergstrom AP, TX11 miMar 12Nov 16

The average last-frost dates of these stations span 28 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.

Questions

When is the last frost in 78749?

The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 78749 is March 10. For a safer planting date, use March 31, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.

When is the first frost in 78749?

The average first fall freeze is November 17. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 1.

What hardiness zone is 78749?

ZIP 78749 is in USDA zone 9a (20 to 25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.

Other ZIP codes in Travis County

78617 78641 78645 78652 78653 78660 78669 78701 78702 78703 78704 78705 78712 78719 78721 78722 78723 78724 78725 78726 78727 78728 78730 78731 All Travis County ZIPs