Frost Dates for 40336 — Irvine, Kentucky

Half of springs at Cressy, KY see their last 32°F night by April 20; only one in ten is past it by April 6, and one in ten still has one after May 8. Planting tender crops after April 26 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 8 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 19 in half of years, as early as October 8 one year in ten, and holds off past October 31 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 30; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 23, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 182 days in a typical year, shorter than at 80% of the 113 Kentucky stations; it reaches 201 days one year in ten and falls short of 160 one year in ten. On average 116 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 10 days longer, to about April 30, and return around October 11. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 4 and March 4.

July is the warmest month at Cressy, KY, averaging 85°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 43°F and 23°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 22% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,664 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 82% of the 113 Kentucky stations. 38% of them (1,379) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 772. Precipitation totals 50.9 inches a year, most in May (5.4") and least in November (3.3"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Stanton 2W, KY, 12 miles north of Irvine, has a last frost 1 day earlier (April 19), a first frost 1 day later (October 20), a season 2 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Irvine usually arrives around December 11, and the last of the season around March 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Beattyville 4N, KY, 14.9 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 45 days after the last snow.

ZIP 40336 is 10 miles from Cressy, KY, which stands at 720 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 40391 (Winchester). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 40336 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.