Frost Dates for 40734 — Gray, Kentucky

Half of springs at Barbourville, KY see their last 32°F night by April 19; only one in ten is past it by April 4, and one in ten still has one after May 6. Planting tender crops after April 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 6 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 47% of the 113 Kentucky stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 24 in half of years, as early as October 11 one year in ten, and holds off past November 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 23, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 187 days in a typical year, shorter than at 72% of the 113 Kentucky stations; it reaches 207 days one year in ten and falls short of 165 one year in ten. On average 110 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 30, and return around October 15. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 8 and February 27.

July is the warmest month at Barbourville, KY, averaging 87°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 45°F and 25°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November 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 21% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,895 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 56% of the 113 Kentucky stations. 37% of them (1,429) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 803. Precipitation totals 53.9 inches a year, most in July (5.8") and least in October (3.1"); May to September bring 42% of it.

The nearest other station, London Corbin Airport, KY, 12 miles northwest of Gray and 198 feet higher, has a last frost 4 days earlier (April 15), a first frost 1 day later (October 25), a season 5 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Gray usually arrives around January 6, and the last of the season around February 18. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Barbourville, KY, 6.4 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 93% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 60 days after the last snow.

ZIP 40734 is 6 miles from Barbourville, KY, which stands at 990 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 40906 (Barbourville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 40734 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.