Frost Dates for 38116 — Memphis, Tennessee

Half of springs at Memphis International Airport, TN see their last 32°F night by March 16; only one in ten is past it by February 27, and one in ten still has one after April 4. Planting tender crops after March 24 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 29 20%, and after April 4 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 84% of the 144 Tennessee stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 16 in half of years, as early as November 2 one year in ten, and holds off past December 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 28; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 23, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 244 days in a typical year, the longest of the 144 Tennessee stations; it reaches 266 days one year in ten and falls short of 221 one year in ten. On average 44 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 13 days longer, to about March 29, and return around November 5. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 68%.

July is the warmest month at Memphis International Airport, TN, averaging 92°F by day and 74°F at night; January is the coldest at 51°F and 33°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 85% of years and April still brings one in 15% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,766 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), the most of the 144 Tennessee stations. 40% of them (2,299) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,015. Precipitation totals 55.0 inches a year, most in April (5.9") and least in September (3.0"); May to September bring 37% of it.

The nearest other station, W Memphis, AR, 11 miles northwest of Memphis, has a last frost 3 days later (March 19), a first frost 6 days earlier (November 10), a season 9 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Memphis usually arrives around January 7, and the last of the season around February 5. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Memphis International Airport, TN, 2.1 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 96% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 39 days after the last snow.

ZIP 38116 is 2 miles from Memphis International Airport, TN, which stands at 254 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 16 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 38109 (Memphis). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 38116 in zone 8a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.