Frost Dates for 38233 — Kenton, Tennessee

Half of springs at Union City, TN see their last 32°F night by April 3; only one in ten is past it by March 18, and one in ten still has one after April 19. Planting tender crops after April 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 14 20%, and after April 19 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 53% 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 17 one year in ten, and holds off past November 10 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 7; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 8, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 208 days in a typical year, longer than at 61% of the 144 Tennessee stations; it reaches 230 days one year in ten and falls short of 188 one year in ten. On average 86 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 15, and return around October 19. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 98% of winters, usually between December 24 and February 12.

July is the warmest month at Union City, TN, averaging 88°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 45°F and 27°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 59% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,461 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 51% of the 144 Tennessee stations. 39% of them (1,730) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 883. Precipitation totals 53.8 inches a year, most in May (5.6") and least in August (3.3"); May to September bring 39% of it.

The nearest other station, Martin U Of T Branch E, TN, 14 miles northeast of Kenton, has a last frost 1 day later (April 4), a first frost 1 day earlier (October 28), a season 4 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Kenton usually arrives around December 31, and the last of the season around February 19. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Union City, TN, 13.2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 88% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 43 days after the last snow.

ZIP 38233 is 13 miles from Union City, TN, which stands at 350 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 38261 (Union City). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 38233 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.