Frost Dates for 47246 — Hope, Indiana

Half of springs at Columbus, IN see their last 32°F night by April 11; only one in ten is past it by March 31, and one in ten still has one after April 30. Planting tender crops after April 18 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 23 20%, and after April 30 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 94% of the 125 Indiana stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 25 in half of years, as early as October 12 one year in ten, and holds off past November 7 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 14, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 195 days in a typical year, longer than at 79% of the 125 Indiana stations; it reaches 213 days one year in ten and falls short of 173 one year in ten. On average 108 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 13 days longer, to about April 24, and return around October 15. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 9 and February 28.

July is the warmest month at Columbus, IN, averaging 86°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 39°F and 22°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 85% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,724 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 73% of the 125 Indiana stations. 37% of them (1,364) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 798. Precipitation totals 47.3 inches a year, most in June (5.3") and least in February (2.9"); May to September bring 45% of it.

The nearest other station, Greensburg, IN, 15 miles east of Hope and 328 feet higher, has a last frost 4 days later (April 15), a first frost 1 day later (October 26), a season 1 day shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Hope usually arrives around December 16, and the last of the season around March 9. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Columbus, IN, 12.3 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 33 days after the last snow.

ZIP 47246 is 12 miles from Columbus, IN, which stands at 609 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 47201 (Columbus). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 47246 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.