Frost Dates for 46172 — Roachdale, Indiana

Half of springs at Crawfordsville 6 SE, IN see their last 32°F night by April 27; only one in ten is past it by April 11, and one in ten still has one after May 13. Planting tender crops after May 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 7 20%, and after May 13 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 12 in half of years, as early as September 26 one year in ten, and holds off past October 25 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 23; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 2, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 167 days in a typical year, shorter than at 94% of the 125 Indiana stations; it reaches 188 days one year in ten and falls short of 146 one year in ten. On average 140 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 7, and return around October 2. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 30 and March 13.

July is the warmest month at Crawfordsville 6 SE, IN, averaging 83°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 33°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 39% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,079 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 77% of the 125 Indiana stations. 36% of them (1,108) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 693. Precipitation totals 44.2 inches a year, most in June (5.3") and least in February (2.5"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Jamestown 2 E, IN, 14 miles northeast of Roachdale, has a last frost 4 days earlier (April 23), a first frost 7 days later (October 19), a season 11 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Roachdale usually arrives around November 30, and the last of the season around March 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Crawfordsville 6 SE, IN, 11.2 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 52 days after the last snow.

ZIP 46172 is 11 miles from Crawfordsville 6 SE, IN, which stands at 836 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 47933 (Crawfordsville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 46172 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.