Frost Dates for 64131 — Kansas City, Missouri

Half of springs at Kansas City Downtown Airport, MO see their last 32°F night by April 4; only one in ten is past it by March 17, and one in ten still has one after April 20. Planting tender crops after April 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 14 20%, and after April 20 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 November 2 in half of years, as early as October 21 one year in ten, and holds off past November 16 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 11; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 10, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 211 days in a typical year, longer than at 91% of the 158 Missouri stations; it reaches 234 days one year in ten and falls short of 191 one year in ten. On average 93 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 15, and return around October 25. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 9 and February 27.

July is the warmest month at Kansas City Downtown Airport, MO, averaging 90°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 40°F and 22°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 63% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,531 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 91% of the 158 Missouri stations. 37% of them (1,666) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 962. Precipitation totals 38.1 inches a year, most in June (5.3") and least in January (1.0"); May to September bring 61% of it.

The nearest other station, Lees Summit Municipal Airport, MO, 11 miles east of Kansas City and 255 feet higher, has a last frost 3 days later (April 7), a first frost 4 days earlier (October 29), a season 9 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Kansas City usually arrives around December 19, and the last of the season around March 2. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Unity Village, MO, 9.8 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 96% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 33 days after the last snow.

ZIP 64131 is 10 miles from Kansas City Downtown Airport, MO, which stands at 742 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 33 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 64118 (Kansas City). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 64131 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.