Frost Dates for 64862 — Sarcoxie, Missouri

Half of springs at Carthage, MO see their last 32°F night by April 4; only one in ten is past it by March 20, and one in ten still has one after April 20. Planting tender crops after April 11 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 15 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 October 27 in half of years, as early as October 13 one year in ten, and holds off past November 12 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 10, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 204 days in a typical year, longer than at 79% of the 158 Missouri stations; it reaches 226 days one year in ten and falls short of 183 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 12 days longer, to about April 16, and return around October 17. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 14 and February 26.

July is the warmest month at Carthage, MO, averaging 91°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 45°F and 24°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 62% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,641 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 94% of the 158 Missouri stations. 37% of them (1,732) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 941.

The nearest other station, Mt Vernon Univ Mo - SW Ctr, MO, 14 miles east of Sarcoxie and 212 feet higher, has a last frost 10 days later (April 14), a first frost 6 days earlier (October 21), a season 16 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Sarcoxie usually arrives around December 31, and the last of the season around February 22. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Carthage, MO, 11.7 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 41 days after the last snow.

ZIP 64862 is 12 miles from Carthage, MO, which stands at 978 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 64836 (Carthage). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 64862 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.