Frost Dates for 65240 — Centralia, Missouri

Half of springs at Mexico, MO see their last 32°F night by April 11; only one in ten is past it by March 27, and one in ten still has one after April 26. Planting tender crops after April 17 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 21 20%, and after April 26 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 25 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 10 days later, around November 4; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 15, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 197 days in a typical year, longer than at 58% of the 158 Missouri stations; it reaches 216 days one year in ten and falls short of 176 one year in ten. On average 113 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 23, and return around October 15. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 4 and March 4.

July is the warmest month at Mexico, MO, averaging 88°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 38°F and 19°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 82% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,907 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 68% of the 158 Missouri stations. 36% of them (1,418) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 855. Precipitation totals 43.6 inches a year, most in June (5.2") and least in January (2.0"); May to September bring 54% of it.

The nearest other station, Columbia U Of M, MO, 21 miles southwest of Centralia, has a last frost 6 days earlier (April 5), a first frost 6 days later (October 31), a season 10 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Centralia usually arrives around December 8, and the last of the season around March 10. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Centralia, MO, 0.2 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 32 days after the last snow.

ZIP 65240 is 14 miles from Mexico, MO, which stands at 802 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 65265 (Mexico). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 65240 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.