Frost Dates for 64742 — Drexel, Missouri

Half of springs at Paola, KS see their last 32°F night by April 13; only one in ten is past it by March 31, and one in ten still has one after April 28. Planting tender crops after April 19 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 23 20%, and after April 28 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 54% of the 158 Missouri stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 21 in half of years, as early as October 8 one year in ten, and holds off past November 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 31; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 18, 10 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 210 days one year in ten and falls short of 171 one year in ten. On average 107 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 12 days longer, to about April 25, and return around October 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 4.

July is the warmest month at Paola, KS, averaging 89°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 40°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 88% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,072 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 53% of the 158 Missouri stations. 36% of them (1,479) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 891. Precipitation totals 41.2 inches a year, most in May (6.1") and least in January (1.2"); May to September bring 59% of it.

The nearest other station, Butler 4W, MO, 19 miles southeast of Drexel, has a last frost 1 day earlier (April 12), a first frost 2 days later (October 23), a season 1 day longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Drexel usually arrives around December 7, and the last of the season around February 28. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Paola, KS, 18.1 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 44 days after the last snow.

ZIP 64742 is 18 miles from Paola, KS, which stands at 860 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 66071 (Paola). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 64742 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.