Frost Dates for 42217 — Crofton, Kentucky

Half of springs at Hopkinsville, KY see their last 32°F night by April 4; only one in ten is past it by March 18, and one in ten still has one after April 19. Planting tender crops after April 9 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 13 20%, and after April 19 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 2 in half of years, as early as October 20 one year in ten, and holds off past November 18 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 13; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 7, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 211 days in a typical year, longer than at 90% of the 113 Kentucky stations; it reaches 236 days one year in ten and falls short of 191 one year in ten. On average 87 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 April 14, and return around October 24. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 98% of winters, usually between December 26 and February 12.

July is the warmest month at Hopkinsville, KY, averaging 88°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 44°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 61% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,577 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 91% of the 113 Kentucky stations. 38% of them (1,728) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 902. Precipitation totals 51.9 inches a year, most in May (5.4") and least in January (3.4"); May to September bring 43% of it.

The nearest other station, Madisonville, KY, 21 miles north of Crofton, has a last frost 2 days earlier (April 2), a first frost 1 day earlier (November 1), a season 1 day longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Crofton usually arrives around January 2, and the last of the season around February 23. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Hopkinsville, KY, 13.6 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 40 days after the last snow.

ZIP 42217 is 14 miles from Hopkinsville, KY, which stands at 520 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 42240 (Hopkinsville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 42217 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.