Frost Dates for 46030 — Arcadia, Indiana

Half of springs at Tipton 5 SW, IN see their last 32°F night by April 23; only one in ten is past it by April 9, 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 4 20%, and after May 9 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 35% of the 125 Indiana stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 17 in half of years, as early as October 3 one year in ten, and holds off past November 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 28; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 29, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 174 days in a typical year, shorter than at 72% of the 125 Indiana stations; it reaches 194 days one year in ten and falls short of 154 one year in ten. On average 132 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 12 days longer, to about May 5, and return around October 6. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 11.

July is the warmest month at Tipton 5 SW, IN, averaging 85°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 35°F and 17°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 29% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,247 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 59% of the 125 Indiana stations. 36% of them (1,166) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 722. Precipitation totals 42.4 inches a year, most in June (5.4") and least in February (2.2"); May to September bring 49% of it.

The nearest other station, Elwood, IN, 12 miles northeast of Arcadia, has a last frost 1 day later (April 24), a first frost 1 day later (October 18), a season 1 day longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Arcadia usually arrives around November 26, and the last of the season around March 22. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Tipton 5 SW, IN, 5.9 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 32 days after the last snow.

ZIP 46030 is 6 miles from Tipton 5 SW, IN, which stands at 890 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 46072 (Tipton). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 46030 in zone 6a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.