Frost Dates for 46574 — Walkerton, Indiana

Half of springs at Lakeville, IN see their last 32°F night by May 1; only one in ten is past it by April 18, and one in ten still has one after May 18. Planting tender crops after May 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 11 20%, and after May 18 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 66% of the 125 Indiana stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 13 in half of years, as early as September 30 one year in ten, and holds off past October 28 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around October 26; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 7, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 163 days in a typical year, shorter than at 99% of the 125 Indiana stations; it reaches 183 days one year in ten and falls short of 142 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 11 days longer, to about May 12, and return around October 2. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 29 and March 17.

July is the warmest month at Lakeville, IN, averaging 82°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 31°F and 15°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 54% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,755 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 98% of the 125 Indiana stations. 34% of them (946) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 662. Precipitation totals 41.9 inches a year, most in July (4.7") and least in February (2.5"); May to September bring 51% of it.

The nearest other station, Plymouth, IN, 12 miles southeast of Walkerton, has a last frost 6 days earlier (April 25), a first frost 8 days later (October 21), a season 15 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Walkerton usually arrives around November 25, and the last of the season around March 24. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Lakeville, IN, 12.2 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 38 days after the last snow.

ZIP 46574 is 12 miles from Lakeville, IN, which stands at 841 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 46506 (Bremen). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 46574 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.