Frost Dates for 65026 — Eldon, Missouri

Half of springs at Eldon, MO see their last 32°F night by April 7; only one in ten is past it by March 22, and one in ten still has one after April 27. Planting tender crops after April 16 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 20 20%, and after April 27 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 97% of the 158 Missouri stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 1 in half of years, as early as October 19 one year in ten, and holds off past November 16 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 11; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 14, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 208 days in a typical year, longer than at 89% of the 158 Missouri stations; it reaches 231 days one year in ten and falls short of 182 one year in ten. On average 97 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 22. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 7 and March 1.

July is the warmest month at Eldon, MO, averaging 89°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 40°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 70% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,234 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 73% of the 158 Missouri stations. 37% of them (1,554) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 891. Precipitation totals 45.0 inches a year, most in May (5.6") and least in February (2.0"); May to September bring 52% of it.

The nearest other station, Lakeside, MO, 8 miles south of Eldon and 334 feet lower, has a last frost 7 days earlier (March 31), a first frost 2 days later (November 3), a season 8 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Eldon usually arrives around December 23, and the last of the season around January 20. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Eldon, MO, 2.6 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 65% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 77 days after the last snow.

ZIP 65026 is 3 miles from Eldon, MO, which stands at 924 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 65026 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.