Frost Dates for 64085 — Richmond, Missouri

Half of springs at Richmond 3S, MO see their last 32°F night by April 19; only one in ten is past it by April 6, and one in ten still has one after May 3. Planting tender crops after April 26 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 30 20%, and after May 3 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 80% of the 158 Missouri 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 3 one year in ten, and holds off past October 30 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 27; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 22, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 180 days in a typical year, shorter than at 89% of the 158 Missouri stations; it reaches 197 days one year in ten and falls short of 160 one year in ten. On average 131 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 11 days longer, to about April 30, and return around October 8. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 24 and March 8.

July is the warmest month at Richmond 3S, MO, averaging 87°F by day and 66°F at night; January is the coldest at 38°F and 15°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 17% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,584 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 89% of the 158 Missouri stations. 36% of them (1,284) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 826. Precipitation totals 42.0 inches a year, most in May (6.3") and least in January (1.3"); May to September bring 59% of it.

The nearest other station, Lexington 3E, MO, 11 miles southeast of Richmond, has a last frost 11 days earlier (April 8), a first frost 7 days later (October 25), a season 17 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Richmond usually arrives around December 10, and the last of the season around March 1. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Lexington 3E, MO, 10.8 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 49 days after the last snow.

ZIP 64085 is 5 miles from Richmond 3S, MO, which stands at 700 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 64085 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.