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USDA Hardiness Zone 6b

Frost Dates for 64133 — Raytown, Missouri

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Independence, MO (985 ft), 5 miles northeast.

Updated

In Raytown, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 10 in half of years and has passed by April 26 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 27, as early as October 14 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 198 days (NOAA, Independence, MO).

Last spring frost
April 10

50% probability

First fall frost
October 27

50% probability

Growing season
198 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
6b

-5 to 0°F (-20.6 to -17.8°C) coldest night

First snow
December 7

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 11

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

24 of 24 observed

Snow per year
13.2"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Raytown

Half of springs at Independence, MO see their last 32°F night by April 10; only one in ten is past it by March 29, and one in ten still has one after April 26. Planting tender crops after April 16 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 21 20%, and after April 26 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 27 in half of years, as early as October 14 one year in ten, and holds off past November 8 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 15, 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 218 days one year in ten and falls short of 178 one year in ten. On average 113 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 21, and return around October 17. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 4 and March 3.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Independence, 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 64133 →Compare Raytown with another place →

Weather by month in Raytown

July is the warmest month at Independence, MO, averaging 87°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 38°F and 19°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 82% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,848 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 73% of the 158 Missouri stations. 36% of them (1,381) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 848. Precipitation totals 44.7 inches a year, most in May (6.0") and least in January (1.5"); May to September bring 59% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Independence, MO
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan38191.5100%282
Feb43231.9100%2310
Mar55332.9100%1662
Apr65434.482%4179
May74546.04%0432
Jun83645.30%0696
Jul87685.10%0848
Aug86665.10%0801
Sep78574.80%0533
Oct67453.570%3229
Nov53342.4100%1450
Dec42241.8100%255

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Independence, MO (985 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, Lees Summit Municipal Airport, MO, 6 miles southeast of Raytown, has a last frost 3 days earlier (April 7), a first frost 2 days later (October 29), a season 4 days longer.

Frost dates for 64015 (Blue Springs) →

When it snows in Raytown, Missouri

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Raytown usually arrives around December 7, and the last of the season around March 11. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Independence, MO, 5.3 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 30 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 64133

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Raytown, Missouri
WhenWhat to do
January 30 – February 13Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 13 – February 27Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 13 – March 27Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 10 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 4Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 13Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 27 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 64133 is 5 miles from Independence, MO, which stands at 985 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 10 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 64055 (Independence). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 64133 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.

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 6b places in Missouri