Frost Dates for 65101 — Jefferson City, Missouri

Half of springs at Jefferson City Mem Airport, MO see their last 32°F night by April 10; only one in ten is past it by March 26, and one in ten still has one after April 25. Planting tender crops after April 16 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 20 20%, and after April 25 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 54% of the 158 Missouri stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 26 in half of years, as early as October 13 one year in ten, and holds off past November 5 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 4; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 15, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 198 days in a typical year, longer than at 60% of the 158 Missouri stations; it reaches 218 days one year in ten and falls short of 178 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 22, and return around October 16. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 7 and March 1.

July is the warmest month at Jefferson City Mem Airport, MO, averaging 89°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 41°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 78% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,238 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 74% of the 158 Missouri stations. 38% of them (1,601) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 890. Precipitation totals 39.7 inches a year, most in May (4.9") and least in February (1.9"); May to September bring 51% of it.

The nearest other station, Jefferson City Wtp, MO, 4 miles northwest of Jefferson City, has a last frost 2 days earlier (April 8), a first frost 5 days later (October 31), a season 7 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Jefferson City usually arrives around December 11, and the last of the season around February 13. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Jefferson City Wtp, MO, 4.1 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 56 days after the last snow.

ZIP 65101 is 4 miles from Jefferson City Mem Airport, MO, which stands at 573 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 65101 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.