Frost Dates for 65010 — Ashland, Missouri

Half of springs at Columbia Regional Airport, MO see their last 32°F night by April 7; only one in ten is past it by March 23, and one in ten still has one after April 21. Planting tender crops after April 13 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 16 20%, and after April 21 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 29 in half of years, as early as October 16 one year in ten, and holds off past November 11 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around November 6; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 11, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 205 days in a typical year, longer than at 83% of the 158 Missouri stations; it reaches 226 days one year in ten and falls short of 185 one year in ten. On average 101 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 19, and return around October 19. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 6 and February 28.

July is the warmest month at Columbia Regional Airport, MO, averaging 89°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 40°F and 23°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 73% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,226 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 72% of the 158 Missouri stations. 37% of them (1,575) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 883. Precipitation totals 41.4 inches a year, most in April (4.9") and least in January (2.1"); May to September bring 51% of it.

The nearest other station, Columbia U Of M, MO, 12 miles north of Ashland, has a last frost 2 days earlier (April 5), a first frost 2 days later (October 31), a season 2 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Ashland usually arrives around December 5, and the last of the season around March 3. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Columbia Regional Airport, MO, 2.7 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 35 days after the last snow.

ZIP 65010 is 3 miles from Columbia Regional Airport, MO, which stands at 893 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 65010 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.