Frost Dates for 65248 — Fayette, Missouri

Half of springs at New Franklin 1W, MO see their last 32°F night by April 13; only one in ten is past it by March 29, and one in ten still has one after April 29. Planting tender crops after April 19 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 23 20%, and after April 29 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 22 in half of years, as early as October 7 one year in ten, and holds off past November 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 18, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 191 days in a typical year, shorter than at 60% of the 158 Missouri stations; it reaches 213 days one year in ten and falls short of 173 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 25, and return around October 12. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 30 and March 3.

July is the warmest month at New Franklin 1W, MO, averaging 87°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 38°F and 18°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 84% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,851 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 72% of the 158 Missouri stations. 37% of them (1,409) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 842. Precipitation totals 41.5 inches a year, most in May (4.9") and least in December (1.9"); May to September bring 53% of it.

The nearest other station, Boonville, MO, 13 miles south of Fayette, has a last frost 1 day earlier (April 12), a first frost 3 days later (October 25), a season 4 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Fayette usually arrives around December 10, and the last of the season around February 26. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Boonville, MO, 13.2 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 46 days after the last snow.

ZIP 65248 is 10 miles from New Franklin 1W, MO, which stands at 641 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 65248 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.