Frost Dates for 42055 — Kuttawa, Kentucky

Half of springs at Eddyville 5S, KY see their last 32°F night by March 27; only one in ten is past it by March 10, and one in ten still has one after April 12. Planting tender crops after April 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 6 20%, and after April 12 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 68% of the 113 Kentucky stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 8 in half of years, as early as October 27 one year in ten, and holds off past November 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 19; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 1, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 225 days in a typical year, the longest of the 113 Kentucky stations; it reaches 249 days one year in ten and falls short of 205 one year in ten. On average 58 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 7, and return around October 29. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 96% of winters, usually between December 28 and February 7.

July is the warmest month at Eddyville 5S, KY, averaging 90°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 48°F and 30°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 36% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,132 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), the most of the 113 Kentucky stations. 39% of them (1,979) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 942. Precipitation totals 53.0 inches a year, most in June (5.3") and least in September (3.7"); May to September bring 41% of it.

The nearest other station, Princeton 1 SE, KY, 16 miles east of Kuttawa, has a last frost 15 days later (April 11), a first frost 15 days earlier (October 24), a season 29 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Kuttawa usually arrives around January 3, and the last of the season around February 14. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Princeton 1 SE, KY, 15.8 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 89% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 41 days after the last snow.

ZIP 42055 is 4 miles from Eddyville 5S, KY, which stands at 523 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 42038 (Eddyville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 42055 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.