Weather in Odessa, Texas
Roses open on the Piedmont edge. Day 59 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
- TodayMay 16Clear—99°71°
- SundayMay 17Overcast—95°69°
- MondayMay 18Thunderstorm—96°69°
- TuesdayMay 19Showers—83°66°
- WednesdayMay 20Showers63%87°62°
- ThursdayMay 21Light Showers63%83°62°
- FridayMay 22Overcast30%90°65°
- PM 2.5
- 6.7 μg/m³
- PM 10
- 9.6 μg/m³
- NO₂
- 0.9 μg/m³
- Ozone
- 98.0 μg/m³
- UV Index
- 0.0 Low
When the dew is on the grass, rain will never come to pass.
- Moonrise
- 12:08 PM
- Moonset
- 2:05 AM
- In sign
- ♊︎ Gemini
Roses open on the Piedmont edge
Odessa at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 81°F — typical for the season
- Last frost: February 26 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: 28 of 72, May 16–20
- Planting window: Direct sow okra, melons, and southern peas. Thin carrot rows.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of May 17, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | — |
| May | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
July brings Odessa's warmest temperatures (~82°F mean) while January delivers the coldest (~45°F). Rainfall reaches its peak in May (1.6 inches) and drops to its lowest point in February (0.5 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 45° | 0.7″ | 1 |
| February | 49° | 0.5″ | 2 |
| March | 57° | 0.7″ | 2 |
| April | 65° | 0.7″ | 1 |
| May | 74° | 1.6″ | 3 |
| June | 81° | 1.0″ | 2 |
| July | 82° | 1.5″ | 3 |
| August | 81° | 1.6″ | 3 |
| September | 74° | 1.5″ | 4 |
| October | 65° | 1.3″ | 2 |
| November | 54° | 0.6″ | 2 |
| December | 46° | 0.6″ | 2 |
Regional context
Odessa belongs to a humid subtropical climate region — sharing similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions with nearby cities in this zone.
Similar climates: Houston, TX, Dallas, TX, San Antonio, TX, Austin, TX, Fort Worth, TX.
Naturalist notes
Late May brings the peak blooming period for prickly pear cactus across the region, their bright yellow flowers opening in morning hours.
Scissor-tailed flycatchers return to Texas in early April, their distinctive forked tails visible as they hunt insects from fence posts.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Odessa?
- Odessa's last spring frost typically occurs around mid-March, with the first fall frost arriving around mid-December.
- What is the rainy season in Odessa?
- May receives the most rainfall with about 1.6 inches on average; the city gets roughly 12 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Odessa?
- July typically brings the warmest weather, averaging about 82°F.
- What is the coldest month in Odessa?
- January typically delivers the coldest temperatures, averaging about 45°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Odessa?
- Cool-season crops (peas, lettuce) can be planted around the last spring frost (mid-March); warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) should wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Odessa get?
- Odessa experiences about 26 rainy days per year on average.
- What hardiness zone is Odessa?
- Odessa's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperature; use the USDA's online lookup with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
Odessa, Texas experiences a humid subtropical climate zone. January temperatures hover near 45°F while July averages 82°F — a 38°F seasonal swing.
Throughout the year, Odessa receives about 12 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 26 rainy days.
Climate patterns here depend on latitude (31.9°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation — factors that determine what grows here, when frost arrives, and daily weather conditions.