Frost Dates for 41168 — Rush, Kentucky

Half of springs at Grayson 2 E, KY see their last 32°F night by April 27; only one in ten is past it by April 14, and one in ten still has one after May 15. Planting tender crops after May 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 9 20%, and after May 15 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 17 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 9 days later, around October 26; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 5, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 172 days in a typical year, shorter than at 95% of the 113 Kentucky stations; it reaches 191 days one year in ten and falls short of 154 one year in ten. On average 129 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 May 7, and return around October 7. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 8.

July is the warmest month at Grayson 2 E, KY, averaging 87°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 43°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 38% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,536 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 92% of the 113 Kentucky stations. 36% of them (1,274) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 769. Precipitation totals 46.4 inches a year, most in May (4.9") and least in October (2.9"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Huntington Tri State Airport, WV, 13 miles east of Rush and 244 feet higher, has a last frost 13 days earlier (April 14), a first frost 9 days later (October 26), a season 23 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Rush usually arrives around December 5, and the last of the season around March 12. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Grayson 2 E, KY, 7.5 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 46 days after the last snow.

ZIP 41168 is 8 miles from Grayson 2 E, KY, which stands at 580 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 41143 (Grayson). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 41168 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.