AUSTIN (KXAN) — Our first stretch of cool mornings in the 60s and 50s is upon us this week, a true sign that fall weather is trying to mix in with late summer heat.
As our days continue shortening our temperatures will gradually continue dropping, ushering in the first freezes to Central Texas. Typically, November brings the first freezes for most of Central Texas, but recently they’ve been coming later.
Typical first freeze
According to data from the National Weather Service in Austin/San Antonio, the average first freeze in the western Hill Country can be as early as Halloween through the first week of November. The majority of the Hill Country gets the first freeze by mid-November with areas near and east of Interstate 35 seeing the average first freeze by the second half of November. Austin, thanks to the urban heat island effect, holds onto the heat a little longer with an average first freeze in the final days of November into the first few days of December.
Late first freezes more common lately
With December 1 being the average first freeze in Austin, we’ve seen later freezes than average occurring four out of the last five winters.
Last winter’s first freeze of the season being January 6, 2025 was the second latest first freeze in Austin history. The latest first freeze ever was January 15, 1989.
How many freezes each winter?
Despite the late freeze last winter, we had more freezes than normal during the season. An average colder season (November-March) sees 12 freezes, but last winter we had 16.
Four out of the last five winters have had more freezes than normal.
While we average close to one freeze in November, the majority of our freezes come in December (3) and January (5) with some leftover freezes into February (2), but by March we’re back to averaging just one freeze again.
InDepth: When does a frost become a freeze?
You can get frost when air temperatures drop into the 30s, but frost is unlikely above 36º. Between 34º and 36º frost is possible, with frost likely between 32º and 34º.
In order to freeze, you must get temperatures down to freezing or 32º, but there are different types of freezes. It’s considered a “light freeze” when temperatures drop down to between 30º an 32º with a “hard freeze” being any lows below 30º.
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