Frost Dates for 45121 — Georgetown, Ohio

Half of springs at Ripley Exp Farm, OH see their last 32°F night by April 29; only one in ten is past it by April 17, and one in ten still has one after May 16. Planting tender crops after May 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 10 20%, and after May 16 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 24% of the 148 Ohio stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 11 in half of years, as early as September 28 one year in ten, and holds off past October 23 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 21; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 8, 8 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 162 days in a typical year, shorter than at 95% of the 148 Ohio stations; it reaches 179 days one year in ten and falls short of 143 one year in ten. On average 128 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 9, and return around October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 29 and March 18.

July is the warmest month at Ripley Exp Farm, OH, averaging 86°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 40°F and 17°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 44% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,172 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 59% of the 148 Ohio stations. 36% of them (1,131) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 716. Precipitation totals 47.9 inches a year, most in May (5.3") and least in September (3.0"); May to September bring 45% of it.

The nearest other station, Augusta 2, KY, 10 miles southwest of Georgetown and 372 feet lower, has a last frost 18 days earlier (April 11), a first frost 19 days later (October 30), a season 38 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Georgetown usually arrives around December 4, and the last of the season around March 13. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Ripley Exp Farm, OH, 8.4 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 45121 is 8 miles from Ripley Exp Farm, OH, which stands at 880 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 6 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 45154 (Mount Orab). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 45121 in zone 6b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.