Frost Dates for 42518 — Bronston, Kentucky

Half of springs at Somerset 2 N, KY see their last 32°F night by April 5; only one in ten is past it by March 21, and one in ten still has one after April 25. Planting tender crops after April 12 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 18 20%, and after April 25 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 88% of the 113 Kentucky stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 30 in half of years, as early as October 17 one year in ten, and holds off past November 13 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 9; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 12, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 206 days in a typical year, longer than at 77% of the 113 Kentucky stations; it reaches 229 days one year in ten and falls short of 184 one year in ten. On average 94 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 19, and return around October 20. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 98% of winters, usually between December 26 and February 14.

July is the warmest month at Somerset 2 N, KY, averaging 87°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 45°F and 29°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 62% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,444 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 82% of the 113 Kentucky stations. 38% of them (1,708) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 860. Precipitation totals 53.2 inches a year, most in July (5.3") and least in October (3.2"); May to September bring 43% of it.

The nearest other station, Monticello 3 NE, KY, 12 miles southwest of Bronston, has a last frost 13 days later (April 18), a first frost 4 days earlier (October 26), a season 16 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Bronston usually arrives around December 5, and the last of the season around March 14. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Monticello 3 NE, KY, 12.1 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 22 days after the last snow.

ZIP 42518 is 12 miles from Somerset 2 N, KY, which stands at 1,020 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 42503 (Somerset). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 42518 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.