Frost Dates for 40759 — Rockholds, Kentucky

Half of springs at Williamsburg, KY see their last 32°F night by April 21; only one in ten is past it by April 8, and one in ten still has one after May 5. Planting tender crops after April 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 30 20%, and after May 5 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 93% of the 113 Kentucky stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 22 in half of years, as early as October 9 one year in ten, and holds off past November 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 26, 9 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 164 one year in ten. On average 113 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 9 days longer, to about April 30, and return around October 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 6 and March 2.

July is the warmest month at Williamsburg, KY, averaging 87°F by day and 63°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 19% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,774 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 71% of the 113 Kentucky stations. 38% of them (1,427) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 783. Precipitation totals 52.1 inches a year, most in December (5.2") and least in October (2.5"); May to September bring 43% of it.

The nearest other station, Barbourville, KY, 11 miles northeast of Rockholds, has a last frost 2 days earlier (April 19), a first frost 2 days later (October 24), a season 5 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Rockholds 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, 10.8 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 62 days after the last snow.

ZIP 40759 is 8 miles from Williamsburg, KY, which stands at 940 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 40769 (Williamsburg). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 40759 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.