Frost Dates for 38221 — Big Sandy, Tennessee

Half of springs at Big Sandy, TN see their last 32°F night by April 8; only one in ten is past it by March 23, and one in ten still has one after April 23. Planting tender crops after April 15 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 18 20%, and after April 23 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 October 29 in half of years, as early as October 14 one year in ten, and holds off past November 12 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 8; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 14, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 202 days in a typical year, shorter than at 57% of the 144 Tennessee stations; it reaches 224 days one year in ten and falls short of 182 one year in ten. On average 80 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 12 days longer, to about April 20, and return around October 20. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 98% of winters, usually between December 20 and February 11.

July is the warmest month at Big Sandy, TN, averaging 88°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 47°F and 29°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 72% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,704 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 75% of the 144 Tennessee stations. 39% of them (1,839) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 894. Precipitation totals 51.9 inches a year, most in May (5.3") and least in August (3.1"); May to September bring 38% of it.

The nearest other station, Paris 2 SE, TN, 14 miles west of Big Sandy, has a last frost 1 day earlier (April 7), a first frost 2 days later (October 31), a season 4 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Big Sandy usually arrives around January 21, and the last of the season around February 4. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Big Sandy, TN, 2.7 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 82% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 63 days after the last snow.

ZIP 38221 is 3 miles from Big Sandy, TN, which stands at 365 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 38221 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.