Photo: Billy Hathorn · CC BY 3.0Summer afternoons in Rockdale are warmer than in 95% of U.S. towns
Midwinter brings lows of about 38°. The seasons are far apart: from a winter night to a summer afternoon the average spans 58°. In January, nights here are milder than in 86% of U.S. towns. For walks and days out, the stretch from February to April and October to November brings highs of 64–81°.
A year in Rockdale at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Rockdale’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Rockdale’s place in Texas beside it.
What a year in Rockdale feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 261 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 6 and the first by November 23. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Cameron, TX, 13 miles from the town’s center, 130 ft lower.
The 2023 USDA map puts Rockdale’s center in zone 9a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 21°. 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 38 inches of rain a year
May is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain falls on about 84 days a year. Snow is rare: about 0.0" in a normal year at Rockdale, TX, so most winters see none.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in Rockdale
38% of the work is heating, so air conditioning is the bigger bill. Months averaging under 55° run from December through February.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Cameron, TX.
Living with Rockdale’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
261 frost-free days in zone 9a. The last frost comes by Mar 6 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 23.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: February, March, April, October and November. 0.7 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Rockdale from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (47%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 19%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Rockdale and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Rockdale yet.
Climates most like Rockdale’s, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockdale, TX | 38° | 95° | 38" | 0.0" |
| Chico, CA | 38° | 96° | 31" | 0.0" |
| Dublin, GA | 37° | 93° | 47" | 0.0" |
| Cayce, SC | 35° | 93° | 46" | 1.2" |
| Durant, OK | 32° | 94° | 43" | 2.0" |
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 Rockdale averaged 1.2° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+2.2°).
A smaller shift than in 60% 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 Rockdale compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Rockdale’s place among Texas’.
Rockdale weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Rockdale’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Rockdale, TX. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 61° | 38° | 3.0" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 45° – 56° |
| February | 64° | 43° | 2.4" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 45° – 62° |
| March | 71° | 49° | 3.2" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 53° – 67° |
| April | 78° | 56° | 3.0" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 61° – 73° |
| May | 85° | 64° | 4.8" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 71° – 79° |
| June | 92° | 70° | 3.3" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 77° – 85° |
| July | 95° | 73° | 1.8" | 0.0" | 5 | 0 | 80° – 87° |
| August | 96° | 72° | 2.8" | 0.0" | 5 | 0 | 79° – 90° |
| September | 90° | 67° | 3.3" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 75° – 84° |
| October | 81° | 57° | 4.2" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 66° – 74° |
| November | 70° | 47° | 3.1" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 52° – 65° |
| December | 62° | 40° | 3.2" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 45° – 54° |
| Year | 79° | 56° | 38.1" | 0.0" | 84 | 0 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 45° to 62°. June is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Where Rockdale’s 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 Rockdale’s center.
- Snow: Rockdale, TX (NOAA station in town).
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Cameron, TX, 13 miles from the town’s center, 130 ft lower; 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 Rockdale’s climate
What is the weather like in Rockdale?
A typical July afternoon reaches 95°, a January night drops to 38°, and snow is almost unheard of. Milder January nights than 86% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 95% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Rockdale in winter?
January nights average 38°. About 28 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 45°.
How much snow does Rockdale get?
About 0.0 inches in a normal winter at Rockdale, TX, so most winters see none.
How hot does it get in Rockdale?
July, with a typical high of 95° and a low of 73°. About 88 days a year reach 90° and 9 reach 100° (Cameron, TX).
When is the first and last frost in Rockdale?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by March 6 and the first fall frost by November 23, about 261 frost-free days, at Cameron, TX.
What growing zone is Rockdale in?
Zone 9a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 21°.
What is the best time of year to visit Rockdale?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), February, March, April, October and November. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Rockdale getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.2° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 60% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Rockdale.
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.