Frost Dates for 46721 — Butler, Indiana

Half of springs at Hicksville, OH see their last 32°F night by April 28; only one in ten is past it by April 14, 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 8 20%, and after May 13 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 70% 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 September 29 one year in ten, and holds off past November 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around October 30; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 3, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 170 days in a typical year, shorter than at 89% of the 125 Indiana stations; it reaches 189 days one year in ten and falls short of 147 one year in ten. On average 143 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 8, and return around October 3. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 14.

July is the warmest month at Hicksville, OH, averaging 85°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 33°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 August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 41% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,043 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 86% of the 125 Indiana stations. 35% of them (1,054) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 716. Precipitation totals 35.1 inches a year, most in May (4.4") and least in February (1.9"); May to September bring 49% of it.

The nearest other station, Garrett 1 S, IN, 14 miles southwest of Butler, has a last frost 4 days later (May 2), a first frost 7 days earlier (October 10), a season 11 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Butler usually arrives around November 17, and the last of the season around March 31. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Garrett 1 S, IN, 14.2 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 28 days after the last snow.

ZIP 46721 is 11 miles from Hicksville, OH, which stands at 750 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 43526 (Hicksville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 46721 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.