Frost Dates for 40160 — Radcliff, Kentucky

Half of springs at Elizabethtown Wp Cs, KY see their last 32°F night by April 16; only one in ten is past it by March 31, and one in ten still has one after May 4. Planting tender crops after April 22 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 27 20%, and after May 4 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 54% 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 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 3; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 18, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 191 days in a typical year, shorter than at 56% of the 113 Kentucky stations; it reaches 210 days one year in ten and falls short of 168 one year in ten. On average 98 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 27, and return around October 16. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 6 and February 27.

July is the warmest month at Elizabethtown Wp Cs, KY, averaging 86°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 June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 87% of years and May still brings one in 14% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,868 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 58% of the 113 Kentucky stations. 37% of them (1,439) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 801. Precipitation totals 54.3 inches a year, most in May (5.8") and least in September (3.5"); May to September bring 43% of it.

The nearest other station, Brandenburg, KY, 13 miles northwest of Radcliff, has a last frost 3 days later (April 19), a first frost 1 day earlier (October 24), a season 5 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 9 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Boston 6 SW, KY, 11.9 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 40160 is 11 miles from Elizabethtown Wp Cs, KY, which stands at 690 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 42701 (Elizabethtown). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 40160 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.