Frost Dates for 64011 — Bates City, Missouri

Half of springs at Elm, MO see their last 32°F night by April 13; only one in ten is past it by March 30, and one in ten still has one after April 29. Planting tender crops after April 20 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 24 20%, and after April 29 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 23 in half of years, as early as October 9 one year in ten, and holds off past November 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 17, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 191 days in a typical year, shorter than at 60% of the 158 Missouri stations; it reaches 211 days one year in ten and falls short of 171 one year in ten. On average 116 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 26, and return around October 14. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 30 and March 4.

July is the warmest month at Elm, MO, averaging 88°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 38°F and 18°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 3,805 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 77% of the 158 Missouri stations. 36% of them (1,364) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 842. Precipitation totals 42.9 inches a year, most in July (5.6") and least in January (1.4"); May to September bring 57% of it.

The nearest other station, Pleasant Hill WFO, MO, 16 miles southwest of Bates City and 150 feet higher, has a last frost 5 days earlier (April 8), a first frost 6 days later (October 29), a season 13 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Bates City usually arrives around December 8, and the last of the season around March 6. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Elm, MO, 8.1 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 38 days after the last snow.

ZIP 64011 is 8 miles from Elm, MO, which stands at 850 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 64075 (Oak Grove). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 64011 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.