Frost Dates for 41774 — Viper, Kentucky

Half of springs at Skyline 1 SE, KY see their last 32°F night by April 18; only one in ten is past it by April 6, and one in ten still has one after May 2. Planting tender crops after April 23 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 27 20%, and after May 2 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 28 in half of years, as early as October 17 one year in ten, and holds off past November 7 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around November 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 20, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 191 days in a typical year, shorter than at 56% of the 113 Kentucky stations; it reaches 207 days one year in ten and falls short of 174 one year in ten. On average 100 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 29, and return around October 20. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 11 and February 27.

July is the warmest month at Skyline 1 SE, KY, averaging 86°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 45°F and 26°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 12% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,809 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 65% of the 113 Kentucky stations. 37% of them (1,402) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 770. Precipitation totals 49.9 inches a year, most in July (5.7") and least in October (2.9"); May to September bring 45% of it.

The nearest other station, Whitesburg 2SE, KY, 19 miles east of Viper and 157 feet higher, has a last frost 3 days later (April 21), a first frost 6 days earlier (October 22), a season 8 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Viper usually arrives around December 7, and the last of the season around March 13. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Skyline 1 SE, KY, 9.3 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 36 days after the last snow.

ZIP 41774 is 9 miles from Skyline 1 SE, KY, which stands at 1,083 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 40823 (Cumberland). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 41774 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.