Frost Dates for 40069 — Springfield, Kentucky

Half of springs at Bardstown 5E, KY see their last 32°F night by April 13; only one in ten is past it by March 29, and one in ten still has one after May 3. Planting tender crops after April 20 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 25 20%, and after May 3 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 88% of the 113 Kentucky stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 25 in half of years, as early as October 13 one year in ten, and holds off past November 6 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 18, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 195 days in a typical year, longer than at 52% of the 113 Kentucky stations; it reaches 215 days one year in ten and falls short of 174 one year in ten. On average 87 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 April 26, and return around October 16. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 11 and February 27.

July is the warmest month at Bardstown 5E, KY, averaging 87°F by day and 66°F at night; January is the coldest at 43°F and 26°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 83% of years and May still brings one in 12% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,157 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 63% of the 113 Kentucky stations. 38% of them (1,585) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 820. Precipitation totals 51.6 inches a year, most in May (5.5") and least in January (3.7"); May to September bring 44% of it.

The nearest other station, Bradfordsville, KY, 15 miles south of Springfield, has a last frost 9 days later (April 22), a first frost 5 days earlier (October 20), a season 15 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Springfield usually arrives around January 3, and the last of the season around February 17. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Springfield 2W, KY, 2.3 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 95% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 55 days after the last snow.

ZIP 40069 is 12 miles from Bardstown 5E, KY, which stands at 780 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 40004 (Bardstown). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 40069 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.