Frost Dates for 42642 — Russell Springs, Kentucky

Half of springs at Jamestown Wwtp, KY see their last 32°F night by April 18; only one in ten is past it by April 2, and one in ten still has one after May 3. Planting tender crops after April 25 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 29 20%, and after May 3 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 85% of the 113 Kentucky stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 24 in half of years, as early as October 11 one year in ten, and holds off past November 5 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 2; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 25, 8 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 189 days in a typical year, shorter than at 63% of the 113 Kentucky stations; it reaches 208 days one year in ten and falls short of 169 one year in ten. On average 111 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 April 28, and return around October 15. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 9 and February 27.

July is the warmest month at Jamestown Wwtp, KY, averaging 86°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 44°F and 25°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 14% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,803 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 66% of the 113 Kentucky stations. 37% of them (1,412) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 787. Precipitation totals 57.0 inches a year, most in January (5.5") and least in October (3.1"); May to September bring 43% of it.

The nearest other station, Monticello 3 NE, KY, 18 miles southeast of Russell Springs, has the same 50% last-frost date, a first frost 2 days later (October 26), a season 1 day longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Russell Springs usually arrives around January 13, and the last of the season around February 17. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Jamestown Wwtp, KY, 3.3 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 82% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 60 days after the last snow.

ZIP 42642 is 3 miles from Jamestown Wwtp, KY, which stands at 890 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 42728 (Columbia). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 42642 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.