Frost Dates for 65074 — Russellville, Missouri

Half of springs at California, MO see their last 32°F night by April 11; only one in ten is past it by March 28, and one in ten still has one after April 27. Planting tender crops after April 18 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 22 20%, and after April 27 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 25 in half of years, as early as October 12 one year in ten, and holds off past November 6 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, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 195 days in a typical year, longer than at 51% of the 158 Missouri stations; it reaches 217 days one year in ten and falls short of 174 one year in ten. On average 105 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 13 days longer, to about April 24, and return around October 16. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 3.

July is the warmest month at California, MO, averaging 88°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 40°F and 20°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 81% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,008 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 54% of the 158 Missouri stations. 36% of them (1,454) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 856. Precipitation totals 43.2 inches a year, most in May (5.0") and least in December (1.9"); May to September bring 51% of it.

The nearest other station, Eldon, MO, 11 miles southwest of Russellville, has a last frost 4 days earlier (April 7), a first frost 7 days later (November 1), a season 13 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Russellville usually arrives around December 15, and the last of the season around February 18. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at California, MO, 10.9 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 96% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 52 days after the last snow.

ZIP 65074 is 11 miles from California, MO, which stands at 879 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 65018 (California). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 65074 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.