Frost Dates for 40006 — Bedford, Kentucky

Half of springs at Madison Sewage Plt, IN see their last 32°F night by April 11; only one in ten is past it by March 28, and one in ten still has one after April 28. Planting tender crops after April 18 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 22 20%, and after April 28 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 47% of the 113 Kentucky stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 31 in half of years, as early as October 15 one year in ten, and holds off past November 14 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 16, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 201 days in a typical year, longer than at 67% of the 113 Kentucky stations; it reaches 221 days one year in ten and falls short of 179 one year in ten. On average 96 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 11 days longer, to about April 22, and return around October 21. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 17 and February 28.

July is the warmest month at Madison Sewage Plt, IN, averaging 88°F by day and 66°F at night; January is the coldest at 42°F and 24°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 84% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,038 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 52% of the 113 Kentucky stations. 36% of them (1,454) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 839. Precipitation totals 51.0 inches a year, most in April (5.5") and least in February (3.2"); May to September bring 45% of it.

The nearest other station, Crestwood 4NE, KY, 17 miles south of Bedford and 320 feet higher, has a last frost 1 day later (April 12), a first frost 6 days earlier (October 25), a season 8 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Bedford usually arrives around December 27, and the last of the season around February 24. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Madison Sewage Plt, IN, 10.1 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 46 days after the last snow.

ZIP 40006 is 10 miles from Madison Sewage Plt, IN, which stands at 460 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 47250 (Madison). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 40006 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.