Frost Dates for 40019 — Eminence, Kentucky

Half of springs at Shelbyville 1 E, KY see their last 32°F night by May 1; only one in ten is past it by April 19, and one in ten still has one after May 15. Planting tender crops after May 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 9 20%, and after May 15 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 93% of the 113 Kentucky stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 10 in half of years, as early as September 24 one year in ten, and holds off past October 25 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 21; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 7, 8 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 161 days in a typical year, the shortest of the 113 Kentucky stations; it reaches 181 days one year in ten and falls short of 142 one year in ten. On average 139 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 8 days longer, to about May 9, and return around October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 21 and March 19.

July is the warmest month at Shelbyville 1 E, KY, averaging 88°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 42°F and 20°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 52% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,491 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 94% of the 113 Kentucky stations. 37% of them (1,282) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 773. Precipitation totals 49.9 inches a year, most in May (5.2") and least in September (3.5"); May to September bring 43% of it.

The nearest other station, Crestwood 4NE, KY, 13 miles west of Eminence, has a last frost 19 days earlier (April 12), a first frost 15 days later (October 25), a season 32 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Eminence usually arrives around November 29, and the last of the season around March 14. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Vevay, IN, 26.3 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 48 days after the last snow.

ZIP 40019 is 12 miles from Shelbyville 1 E, KY, which stands at 730 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 40065 (Shelbyville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 40019 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.