Frost Dates for 42602 — Albany, Kentucky

Half of springs at Byrdstown, TN see their last 32°F night by April 12; only one in ten is past it by March 28, and one in ten still has one after April 30. Planting tender crops after April 20 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 24 20%, and after April 30 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 54% of the 113 Kentucky stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 25 in half of years, as early as October 13 one year in ten, and holds off past November 6 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 3; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 16, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 196 days in a typical year, longer than at 55% of the 113 Kentucky stations; it reaches 216 days one year in ten and falls short of 173 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 26, and return around October 16. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 99% of winters, usually between December 20 and February 20.

July is the warmest month at Byrdstown, TN, averaging 85°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 46°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 82% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,023 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 51% of the 113 Kentucky stations. 38% of them (1,534) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 792. Precipitation totals 54.6 inches a year, most in July (5.3") and least in October (3.3"); May to September bring 41% of it.

The nearest other station, Monticello 3 NE, KY, 20 miles northeast of Albany, has a last frost 6 days later (April 18), a first frost 1 day later (October 26), a season 6 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Albany 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, 19.8 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 29 days after the last snow.

ZIP 42602 is 10 miles from Byrdstown, TN, which stands at 880 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 42602 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.