Frost Dates for 42071 — Murray, Kentucky

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.

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.

The nearest other station, Kenlake Resort, KY, 13 miles northeast of Murray, has a last frost 6 days earlier (March 30), a first frost 3 days later (November 4), a season 12 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Murray 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, 1.2 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.

ZIP 42071 is 1 mile 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. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 42071 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.