Frost Dates for 40347 — Midway, Kentucky

Half of springs at Versailles 3 NNW, KY see their last 32°F night by April 12; only one in ten is past it by March 28, and one in ten still has one after May 2. Planting tender crops after April 20 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 25 20%, and after May 2 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 28 in half of years, as early as October 15 one year in ten, and holds off past November 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 6; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 19, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 198 days in a typical year, longer than at 61% of the 113 Kentucky stations; it reaches 216 days one year in ten and falls short of 176 one year in ten. On average 91 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 25, and return around October 18. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 14 and February 24.

July is the warmest month at Versailles 3 NNW, KY, averaging 84°F by day and 66°F at night; January is the coldest at 41°F and 25°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 80% of years and May still brings one in 11% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,793 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 67% of the 113 Kentucky stations. 38% of them (1,423) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 778. Precipitation totals 48.2 inches a year, most in May (5.7") and least in September (3.1"); May to September bring 44% of it.

The nearest other station, Lexington Bluegrass Airport, KY, 10 miles southeast of Midway, has a last frost 1 day later (April 13), the same first-frost date, a season 2 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Midway usually arrives around December 9, and the last of the season around March 9. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Lexington Bluegrass Airport, KY, 9.6 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 34 days after the last snow.

ZIP 40347 is 5 miles from Versailles 3 NNW, KY, which stands at 891 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 40383 (Versailles). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 40347 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.