Frost Dates for 42276 — Russellville, Kentucky

Half of springs at Russellville, KY see their last 32°F night by April 9; only one in ten is past it by March 24, and one in ten still has one after April 30. Planting tender crops after April 17 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 23 20%, and after April 30 10%. The 21 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 96% of the 113 Kentucky stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so a fixed calendar date is a gamble here.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 28 in half of years, as early as October 14 one year in ten, and holds off past November 10 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 7; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 14, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 200 days in a typical year, longer than at 65% of the 113 Kentucky stations; it reaches 221 days one year in ten and falls short of 176 one year in ten. On average 91 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 14 days longer, to about April 23, and return around October 19. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 99% of winters, usually between December 16 and February 17.

July is the warmest month at Russellville, KY, averaging 88°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 44°F and 26°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 73% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,214 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 68% of the 113 Kentucky stations. 38% of them (1,591) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 857. Precipitation totals 53.9 inches a year, most in May (5.5") and least in November (3.8"); May to September bring 42% of it.

The nearest other station, Elkton, KY, 15 miles west of Russellville, has a last frost 6 days earlier (April 3), a first frost 1 day later (October 29), a season 7 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Russellville usually arrives around December 28, and the last of the season around February 23. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Bowling Green Warren Co Airport, KY, 26.3 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 45 days after the last snow.

ZIP 42276 is under a mile from Russellville, KY, which stands at 570 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 42276 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.