Frost Dates for 42442 — Nortonville, Kentucky

Half of springs at Madisonville, KY see their last 32°F night by April 2; only one in ten is past it by March 17, and one in ten still has one after April 18. Planting tender crops after April 8 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 12 20%, and after April 18 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 1 in half of years, as early as October 19 one year in ten, and holds off past November 16 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 12; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 7, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 212 days in a typical year, longer than at 94% of the 113 Kentucky stations; it reaches 235 days one year in ten and falls short of 193 one year in ten. On average 80 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 12 days longer, to about April 14, and return around October 23. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 99% of winters, usually between December 22 and February 16.

July is the warmest month at Madisonville, KY, averaging 89°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 45°F and 28°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 56% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,871 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 98% of the 113 Kentucky stations. 39% of them (1,908) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 918. Precipitation totals 52.2 inches a year, most in March (5.3") and least in August (2.7"); May to September bring 41% of it.

The nearest other station, Providence, KY, 22 miles northwest of Nortonville, has a last frost 5 days later (April 7), a first frost 4 days earlier (October 28), a season 9 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Nortonville usually arrives around December 23, and the last of the season around February 14. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Dawson Springs, KY, 12.2 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 47 days after the last snow.

ZIP 42442 is 12 miles from Madisonville, KY, which stands at 425 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 42431 (Madisonville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 42442 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.