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USDA Hardiness Zone 7a

Frost Dates for 63303 — Saint Charles, Missouri

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from St Peters 2 SE, MO (575 ft), 3 miles west.

Updated

In Saint Charles, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 9 in half of years and has passed by April 25 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 26, as early as October 14 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 198 days (NOAA, St Peters 2 SE, MO).

Last spring frost
April 9

50% probability

First fall frost
October 26

50% probability

Growing season
198 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7a

0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) coldest night

First snow
December 6

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 6

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

19 of 19 observed

Snow per year
14.8"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Saint Charles

Half of springs at St Peters 2 SE, MO see their last 32°F night by April 9; only one in ten is past it by March 27, and one in ten still has one after April 25. Planting tender crops after April 17 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 21 20%, and after April 25 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 35% of the 158 Missouri 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 14 one year in ten, and holds off past November 7 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 14, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 198 days in a typical year, longer than at 60% of the 158 Missouri stations; it reaches 219 days one year in ten and falls short of 178 one year in ten. On average 103 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 14 days longer, to about April 23, and return around October 17. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 10 and March 1.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 7Apr 11Apr 16Apr 19Apr 23Apr 26Apr 30May 2May 8
32°FMar 27Mar 31Apr 3Apr 6Apr 9Apr 13Apr 17Apr 21Apr 25
28°FMar 12Mar 18Mar 23Mar 28Mar 31Apr 2Apr 5Apr 9Apr 14
24°FMar 3Mar 9Mar 13Mar 16Mar 20Mar 24Mar 28Mar 31Apr 4
20°FFeb 20Feb 27Mar 3Mar 6Mar 9Mar 13Mar 16Mar 21Mar 27
16°FFeb 7Feb 15Feb 21Feb 27Mar 1Mar 4Mar 7Mar 12Mar 17
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 4Oct 8Oct 12Oct 15Oct 17Oct 19Oct 21Oct 23Oct 27
32°FOct 14Oct 18Oct 21Oct 24Oct 26Oct 28Oct 31Nov 3Nov 7
28°FOct 25Oct 30Nov 1Nov 3Nov 5Nov 8Nov 12Nov 17Nov 22
24°FNov 3Nov 7Nov 10Nov 14Nov 18Nov 22Nov 26Dec 1Dec 6
20°FNov 11Nov 17Nov 21Nov 25Nov 29Dec 1Dec 6Dec 11Dec 19
16°FNov 21Nov 27Dec 1Dec 6Dec 10Dec 14Dec 20Dec 24Dec 30

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at St Peters 2 SE, MO, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 63303 →Compare Saint Charles with another place →

Weather by month in Saint Charles

July is the warmest month at St Peters 2 SE, MO, averaging 88°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 39°F and 21°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 78% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,056 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 52% of the 158 Missouri stations. 37% of them (1,483) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 862. Precipitation totals 42.4 inches a year, most in May (4.8") and least in January (2.4"); May to September bring 48% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at St Peters 2 SE, MO
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan39212.4100%264
Feb45252.4100%2315
Mar56333.599%1572
Apr67434.778%3211
May76544.82%0465
Jun84634.30%0715
Jul88684.20%0862
Aug87653.80%0815
Sep81573.10%0569
Oct69453.173%2251
Nov55353.5100%1266
Dec44272.6100%2212

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at St Peters 2 SE, MO (575 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, St Charles Elm Pt, MO, 4 miles north of Saint Charles, has a last frost 1 day earlier (April 8), a first frost 3 days later (October 29), a season 5 days longer.

Frost dates for 63301 (Saint Charles) →

When it snows in Saint Charles, Missouri

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Saint Charles usually arrives around December 6, and the last of the season around March 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at St Peters 2 SE, MO, 2.7 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 34 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 63303

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Saint Charles, Missouri
WhenWhat to do
January 29 – February 12Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 12 – February 26Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 12 – March 26Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 9 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 3Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 12Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 26 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 63303 is 3 miles from St Peters 2 SE, MO, which stands at 575 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 63376 (Saint Peters). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 63303 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.

Frost dates across Missouri →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 7a places in Missouri