Frost Dates for 47452 — Orleans, Indiana

Half of springs at Paoli, IN see their last 32°F night by April 21; only one in ten is past it by April 6, and one in ten still has one after May 7. Planting tender crops after April 29 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 2 20%, and after May 7 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 18 in half of years, as early as October 6 one year in ten, and holds off past October 29 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 29; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 25, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 178 days in a typical year, shorter than at 62% of the 125 Indiana stations; it reaches 198 days one year in ten and falls short of 158 one year in ten. On average 119 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 1, and return around October 9. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 5.

July is the warmest month at Paoli, IN, averaging 87°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 40°F and 21°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October 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 24% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,677 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 68% of the 125 Indiana stations. 37% of them (1,362) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 792. Precipitation totals 49.6 inches a year, most in April (5.4") and least in August (3.2"); May to September bring 44% of it.

The nearest other station, Oolitic Purdue Ex Fm, IN, 18 miles north of Orleans, has a last frost 1 day earlier (April 20), a first frost 2 days later (October 20), a season 3 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Orleans usually arrives around December 17, and the last of the season around February 27. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Paoli, IN, 7 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 53 days after the last snow.

ZIP 47452 is 7 miles from Paoli, IN, which stands at 560 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 47454 (Paoli). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 47452 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.