Frost Dates for 42539 — Liberty, Kentucky

Half of springs at Bradfordsville, KY see their last 32°F night by April 22; only one in ten is past it by April 8, and one in ten still has one after May 9. Planting tender crops after April 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 3 20%, and after May 9 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 47% of the 113 Kentucky stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 20 in half of years, as early as October 7 one year in ten, and holds off past November 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 30; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 30, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 180 days in a typical year, shorter than at 84% of the 113 Kentucky stations; it reaches 198 days one year in ten and falls short of 160 one year in ten. On average 112 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 May 2, and return around October 10. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 3 and March 3.

July is the warmest month at Bradfordsville, KY, averaging 88°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 44°F and 24°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 26% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,906 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 55% of the 113 Kentucky stations. 37% of them (1,432) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 814. Precipitation totals 52.6 inches a year, most in July (5.3") and least in October (3.0"); May to September bring 44% of it.

The nearest other station, Jamestown Wwtp, KY, 22 miles south of Liberty and 230 feet higher, has a last frost 4 days earlier (April 18), a first frost 4 days later (October 24), a season 9 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Liberty usually arrives around December 12, and the last of the season around March 12. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Bradfordsville, KY, 17.3 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 41 days after the last snow.

ZIP 42539 is 17 miles from Bradfordsville, KY, which stands at 660 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 40033 (Lebanon). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 42539 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.