Frost Dates for 47523 — Dale, Indiana

Half of springs at Saint Meinrad, IN see their last 32°F night by April 11; only one in ten is past it by March 27, 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 26 in half of years, as early as October 13 one year in ten, and holds off past November 7 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 4; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 16, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 197 days in a typical year, longer than at 82% of the 125 Indiana stations; it reaches 218 days one year in ten and falls short of 174 one year in ten. On average 90 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 12 days longer, to about April 23, and return around October 18. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 9 and February 24.

July is the warmest month at Saint Meinrad, IN, averaging 87°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 43°F and 26°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 76% of years and May still brings one in 10% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,243 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 94% of the 125 Indiana stations. 38% of them (1,606) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 826. Precipitation totals 49.6 inches a year, most in May (5.4") and least in August (2.9"); May to September bring 43% of it.

The nearest other station, Stendal, IN, 11 miles northwest of Dale, has a last frost 5 days earlier (April 6), a first frost 4 days later (October 30), a season 9 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Dale usually arrives around December 27, and the last of the season around February 16. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Saint Meinrad, IN, 10.3 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 54 days after the last snow.

ZIP 47523 is 10 miles from Saint Meinrad, IN, which stands at 510 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 47532 (Ferdinand). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 47523 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.