Big Wells reaches 100° on about 54 days a year, more than all but 135 U.S. towns
January mornings start at about 42°. Winters are mild: January nights here are milder than in 90% of U.S. towns. Since 1901–2000, the year has warmed by 1.1°, most of all in February. Garden planting can start around March 5; autumn frost returns near November 22.
A year in Big Wells at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Big Wells’ climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Big Wells’ place in Texas beside it.
What a year in Big Wells feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 265 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 5 and the first by November 22. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Carrizo Springs 3s, TX, 19 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height.
The 2023 USDA map puts Big Wells’ center in zone 9a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 24°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 21 inches of rain a year
September is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain falls on about 52 days a year. Snow is rare: about 0.1" in a normal year at Carrizo Springs 3s, TX, so most winters see none.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in Big Wells
29% of the work is heating, so air conditioning is the bigger bill. Months averaging under 55° run from January.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Carrizo Springs 3s, TX.
Living with Big Wells’ climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
265 frost-free days in zone 9a. The last frost comes by Mar 5 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Nov 22.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: January, February, March, November and December.
Parks & trails →Heat waves are 38% of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Big Wells from natural hazards, the largest share. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Big Wells and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Big Wells yet.
Climates most like Big Wells’, farther away
TownRatings’ own comparison of NOAA 1991–2020 normals, not a NOAA product: places of 5,000+ at least 150 miles away, one per state, closest on January low, July high, precipitation and snow.
| Town | Jan. low | July high | Precip. | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Wells, TX | 42° | 99° | 21" | 0.1" |
| Red Bluff, CA | 39° | 98° | 25" | 0.1" |
| Oro Valley, AZ | 38° | 100° | 13" | 0.0" |
| Ivins, UT | 32° | 100° | 11" | 1.2" |
| Carlsbad, NM | 29° | 97° | 13" | 2.7" |
Temperatures and precipitation come from NOAA’s 5 km grid; snow and day counts from the stations named on this page.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Big Wells averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+2.2°).
A smaller shift than in 70% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How Big Wells compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Big Wells’ place among Texas’.
Big Wells weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Big Wells’ center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Carrizo Springs 3s, TX. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 67° | 42° | 1.0" | 0.0" | 5 | 0 | 49° – 60° |
| February | 72° | 46° | 0.9" | 0.0" | 4 | 0 | 52° – 66° |
| March | 79° | 53° | 1.7" | 0.0" | 5 | 0 | 59° – 71° |
| April | 86° | 59° | 1.5" | 0.0" | 3 | 0 | 66° – 78° |
| May | 91° | 68° | 2.7" | 0.0" | 5 | 0 | 75° – 83° |
| June | 97° | 73° | 2.3" | 0.0" | 4 | 0 | 81° – 89° |
| July | 99° | 74° | 2.1" | 0.0" | 4 | 0 | 81° – 90° |
| August | 99° | 74° | 1.8" | 0.0" | 4 | 0 | 83° – 90° |
| September | 93° | 70° | 2.9" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 78° – 86° |
| October | 86° | 61° | 2.1" | 0.0" | 4 | 0 | 70° – 78° |
| November | 75° | 51° | 1.2" | 0.0" | 4 | 0 | 58° – 68° |
| December | 68° | 43° | 1.1" | 0.1" | 4 | 0 | 48° – 58° |
| Year | 84° | 59° | 21.3" | 0.1" | 52 | 0 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 52° to 66°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Where Big Wells’ numbers come from
Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →
- Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Big Wells’ center.
- Snow: Carrizo Springs 3s, TX.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Carrizo Springs 3s, TX, 19 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
- Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
- Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).
Common questions about Big Wells’ climate
What is the weather like in Big Wells?
A typical July afternoon reaches 99°, a January night drops to 42°, and snow is almost unheard of. Milder January nights than 90% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than all but 162 U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Big Wells in winter?
January nights average 42°. About 25 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 49°.
How much snow does Big Wells get?
About 0.1 inches in a normal winter at Carrizo Springs 3s, TX, so most winters see none.
How hot does it get in Big Wells?
July, with a typical high of 99° and a low of 74°. About 153 days a year reach 90° and 54 reach 100° (Carrizo Springs 3s, TX).
When is the first and last frost in Big Wells?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by March 5 and the first fall frost by November 22, about 265 frost-free days, at Carrizo Springs 3s, TX.
What growing zone is Big Wells in?
Zone 9a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 24°.
What is the best time of year to visit Big Wells?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), January, February, March, November and December. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Big Wells getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.1° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 70% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Big Wells.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.