Frost Dates for 40360 — Owingsville, Kentucky

Half of springs at Mt Sterling, KY see their last 32°F night by April 24; only one in ten is past it by April 9, and one in ten still has one after May 12. Planting tender crops after May 1 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 5 20%, and after May 12 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 18 in half of years, as early as October 6 one year in ten, and holds off past October 29 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 28; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 29, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 175 days in a typical year, shorter than at 91% of the 113 Kentucky stations; it reaches 195 days one year in ten and falls short of 155 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 11 days longer, to about May 5, and return around October 8. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 8.

July is the warmest month at Mt Sterling, KY, averaging 87°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 42°F and 22°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 32% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,553 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 90% of the 113 Kentucky stations. 37% of them (1,305) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 769. Precipitation totals 48.6 inches a year, most in July (5.4") and least in October (3.2"); May to September bring 45% of it.

The nearest other station, Cave Run Lake, KY, 13 miles east of Owingsville, has a last frost 7 days earlier (April 17), a first frost 7 days later (October 25), a season 14 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Owingsville usually arrives around December 27, and the last of the season around March 3. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Mt Sterling, KY, 11.2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 91% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 52 days after the last snow.

ZIP 40360 is 11 miles from Mt Sterling, KY, which stands at 960 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 40353 (Mt Sterling). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 40360 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.