Frost dates for Merkel 12 SW, TX
At Merkel 12 SW, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 2 and the median first fall frost is Nov 3, for a typical growing season of 215 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 20. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8a.
- Apr 2Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 20Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 3First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 215 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 29 | Apr 14 | Apr 28 |
| 32°F | Mar 15 | Apr 2 | Apr 20 |
| 28°F | Mar 1 | Mar 20 | Apr 9 |
| 24°F | Feb 19 | Mar 9 | Mar 30 |
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 14 | Oct 27 | Nov 8 |
| 32°F | Oct 21 | Nov 3 | Nov 18 |
| 28°F | Oct 30 | Nov 14 | Dec 1 |
| 24°F | Nov 7 | Nov 25 | Dec 11 |
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 | 174 days | 195 days | 217 days |
| 32°F | 192 days | 215 days | 240 days |
| 28°F | 210 days | 238 days | 262 days |
| 24°F | 233 days | 259 days | 286 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 79537 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 10 km |
| 79603 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 18 km |
| 79536 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 19 km |
| 79561 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 22 km |
| 79562 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 26 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 USC00415852, at 32.3197, -100.1222, elevation 686 m (2,249 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 16 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 68.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Wingate (31 km)
- Bronte 11 NNE (33 km)
- Roscoe (41 km)
- Abilene Regional Airport (43 km)
- Abilene 6ese (48 km)
- Anson (54 km)
- Robert Lee 4wsw (62 km)
- Ballinger 2 NW (66 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.