Skip to content

USDA Hardiness Zone 7b

Frost Dates for 42020 — Almo, Kentucky

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Murray, KY (527 ft), 6 miles south.

Updated

In Almo, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 5 in half of years and has passed by April 20 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 1, as early as October 20 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 209 days (NOAA, Murray, KY).

Last spring frost
April 5

50% probability

First fall frost
November 1

50% probability

Growing season
209 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7b

5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) coldest night

First snow
January 6

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
February 15

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
93%

27 of 29 observed

Snow per year
6.5"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Almo

Half of springs at Murray, KY see their last 32°F night by April 5; only one in ten is past it by March 19, and one in ten still has one after April 20. Planting tender crops after April 11 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 15 20%, and after April 20 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 85% of the 113 Kentucky stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 1 in half of years, as early as October 20 one year in ten, and holds off past November 14 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 11; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 9, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 209 days in a typical year, longer than at 86% of the 113 Kentucky stations; it reaches 230 days one year in ten and falls short of 188 one year in ten. On average 71 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 16, and return around October 23. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 98% of winters, usually between December 21 and February 13.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 2Apr 7Apr 10Apr 13Apr 16Apr 19Apr 23Apr 27May 2
32°FMar 19Mar 26Mar 30Apr 2Apr 5Apr 8Apr 11Apr 15Apr 20
28°FMar 4Mar 11Mar 16Mar 20Mar 24Mar 27Mar 31Apr 4Apr 9
24°FFeb 20Feb 27Mar 3Mar 6Mar 10Mar 14Mar 18Mar 23Mar 29
20°FFeb 4Feb 11Feb 17Feb 23Feb 28Mar 3Mar 7Mar 12Mar 18
16°F98% of yrsJan 22Jan 31Feb 3Feb 7Feb 13Feb 18Feb 25Mar 1Mar 8
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 12Oct 15Oct 18Oct 21Oct 23Oct 25Oct 27Oct 30Nov 2
32°FOct 20Oct 24Oct 27Oct 29Nov 1Nov 3Nov 5Nov 10Nov 14
28°FOct 30Nov 2Nov 5Nov 8Nov 11Nov 14Nov 18Nov 22Nov 29
24°FNov 7Nov 11Nov 15Nov 19Nov 22Nov 26Dec 1Dec 3Dec 10
20°FNov 16Nov 22Nov 27Nov 30Dec 3Dec 7Dec 12Dec 19Dec 28
16°F98% of yrsNov 28Dec 2Dec 9Dec 14Dec 21Dec 26Jan 1Jan 7Jan 14

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Murray, KY, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 42020 →Compare Almo with another place →

Weather by month in Almo

July is the warmest month at Murray, KY, averaging 89°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 46°F and 27°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 63% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,670 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 92% of the 113 Kentucky stations. 39% of them (1,812) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 904. Precipitation totals 58.0 inches a year, most in May (5.8") and least in August (3.6"); May to September bring 40% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Murray, KY
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan46274.2100%2018
Feb50315.2100%1533
Mar61385.598%8122
Apr71485.663%1308
May79575.81%0557
Jun86655.30%0775
Jul89694.70%0904
Aug89673.60%0871
Sep83603.90%0644
Oct71484.150%1322
Nov58384.699%892
Dec48315.5100%1726

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Murray, KY (527 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Kenlake Resort, KY, 10 miles northeast of Almo, has a last frost 6 days earlier (March 30), a first frost 3 days later (November 4), a season 12 days longer.

Frost dates for 42211 (Cadiz) →

When it snows in Almo, Kentucky

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Almo usually arrives around January 6, and the last of the season around February 15. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Murray, KY, 5.9 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 49 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 42020

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Almo, Kentucky
WhenWhat to do
January 25 – February 8Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 8 – February 22Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 8 – March 22Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 5 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 9Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 18Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 1 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 42020 is 6 miles from Murray, KY, which stands at 527 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 42071 (Murray). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 42020 in zone 7b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across Kentucky →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 7b places in Kentucky