Frost Dates for 38079 — Tiptonville, Tennessee

Half of springs at New Madrid, MO see their last 32°F night by March 28; only one in ten is past it by March 11, and one in ten still has one after April 12. Planting tender crops after April 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 6 20%, and after April 12 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 78% of the 144 Tennessee stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 3 in half of years, as early as October 23 one year in ten, and holds off past November 19 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 15; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 1, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 220 days in a typical year, longer than at 90% of the 144 Tennessee stations; it reaches 244 days one year in ten and falls short of 201 one year in ten. On average 72 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 10 days longer, to about April 7, and return around October 25. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 97% of winters, usually between December 28 and February 10.

July is the warmest month at New Madrid, MO, averaging 90°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 44°F and 28°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 38% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,747 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 80% of the 144 Tennessee stations. 39% of them (1,828) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 945. Precipitation totals 49.4 inches a year, most in May (5.5") and least in August (2.6"); May to September bring 40% of it.

The nearest other station, Samburg Wr, TN, 12 miles east of Tiptonville, has a last frost 6 days later (April 3), a first frost 2 days earlier (November 1), a season 9 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Tiptonville usually arrives around December 23, and the last of the season around February 9. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Portageville, MO, 12.8 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 95% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 47 days after the last snow.

ZIP 38079 is 5 miles from New Madrid, MO, which stands at 302 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 63845 (East Prairie). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 38079 in zone 7b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.