Frost dates for Gatesville, TX
At Gatesville, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 19 and the median first fall frost is Nov 9, for a typical growing season of 236 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 7. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8b.
- Mar 19Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 7Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 9First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 236 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 15 | Apr 2 | Apr 22 |
| 32°F | Feb 26 | Mar 19 | Apr 7 |
| 28°F | Feb 12 | Mar 5 | Mar 27 |
| 24°F | Jan 15 | Feb 20 | Mar 13 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 19 | Nov 1 | Nov 17 |
| 32°F | Oct 25 | Nov 9 | Nov 30 |
| 28°F | Nov 1 | Nov 20 | Dec 11 |
| 24°F | Nov 10 | Dec 2 | Jan 2 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 189 days | 212 days | 238 days |
| 32°F | 208 days | 236 days | 264 days |
| 28°F | 234 days | 259 days | 291 days |
| 24°F | 256 days | 292 days | 331 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 99% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 76599 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 6 km |
| 76596 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 7 km |
| 76598 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 7 km |
| 76528 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 8 km |
| 76597 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 8 km |
| 76544 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 9 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00413485, at 31.4144, -97.7019, elevation 252 m (826 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 23 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 43.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- McGregor (29 km)
- Killeen (39 km)
- Evant 1ssw (44 km)
- Stillhouse Hollow Dam (45 km)
- Waco Regional Airport (50 km)
- Waco Dam (50 km)
- Whitney Dam (59 km)
- Lampasas (60 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.