Frost Dates for 65013 — Belle, Missouri

Half of springs at Vichy Rolla National Airport, MO see their last 32°F night by April 12; only one in ten is past it by March 26, and one in ten still has one after April 30. Planting tender crops after April 20 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 24 20%, and after April 30 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 82% of the 158 Missouri stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 25 in half of years, as early as October 11 one year in ten, and holds off past November 5 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around November 2; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 16, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 194 days in a typical year, shorter than at 50% of the 158 Missouri stations; it reaches 215 days one year in ten and falls short of 172 one year in ten. On average 100 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 14 days longer, to about April 26, and return around October 15. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 4 and March 2.

July is the warmest month at Vichy Rolla National Airport, MO, averaging 88°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 41°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 80% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,042 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 50% of the 158 Missouri stations. 37% of them (1,484) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 851. Precipitation totals 43.2 inches a year, most in May (5.4") and least in February (2.1"); May to September bring 50% of it.

The nearest other station, Freedom, MO, 13 miles north of Belle and 322 feet lower, has a last frost 1 day earlier (April 11), a first frost 4 days earlier (October 21), a season 3 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Belle usually arrives around December 13, and the last of the season around February 27. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Rich Fountain 3 E, MO, 8.7 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 44 days after the last snow.

ZIP 65013 is 10 miles from Vichy Rolla National Airport, MO, which stands at 1,127 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 65013 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.