We spent most of this winter in shorts and t-shirts. Undoubtedly, this month will go down as the warmest December on record since 1891.

However, as we bid adieu to 2021, we will also say goodbye to the spring-like weather that’s yet to deliver an official freeze in Austin.

What You Need To Know

  • The average first freeze in Austin is November 29

  • Much of Central Texas hit freezing criteria on Sunday, December 12

  • Temperatures will hit the freezing mark on January 2

  • Austin will likely see its third latest first freeze on record

Climatology of first freezes in Austin

Over the last 30 years, the average first freeze in Austin happens on November 29. It signifies the end of the growing season and the turning point for when winter weather can fully be expected. 

The National Weather Service describes the first freeze as the first time in a season that a weather observation site hits 32°F (0°C). While that hasn't happened at Camp Mabry yet this winter, temperatures did fall into the upper 20s at ABIA, the city's other weather observation site, on Sunday, Dec. 12. Other areas in the region had also recorded below-freezing temperatures on that day as well.

"The policy of our National Weather Service (NWS) is that once we have had a widespread freeze across a county in our jurisdiction we remove them from the freeze program for the remainder of the winter season," says Paul Yura, a warning coordination meteorologist with the NWS in Austin/San Antonio.

Freeze warnings, which are products issued by the NWS, will no longer be issued for areas that experienced a freeze earlier in December.

"As you can guess, it's the Hill Country and portions of the Edwards Plateau," adds Yura, "Areas that did not receive widespread freezing temperatures like Bexar County, the Coastal Plains, the Rio Grande Plains and Val Verde County that will get freeze warnings next time it's in the forecast."

While Travis County will likely not see a freeze warning for the remainder of the season, Camp Mabry has yet to plunge into the freezer. 

The latest first freeze was Jan. 15, 1989, when Austin saw temperatures hit 32 degrees. Our forecast low of 30 degrees Sunday morning (Jan. 2) would crack the top five latest first freezes. This late start to winter only highlights the unprecedented warmth we dealt with during the month of December.