Frost Dates for 65284 — Sturgeon, Missouri

Half of springs at Moberly, MO see their last 32°F night by April 13; only one in ten is past it by March 31, and one in ten still has one after April 27. Planting tender crops after April 19 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 23 20%, and after April 27 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 80% 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 18, 9 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 214 days one year in ten and falls short of 176 one year in ten. On average 102 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 16. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 29 and March 5.

July is the warmest month at Moberly, MO, averaging 87°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 37°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 89% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,905 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 69% of the 158 Missouri stations. 37% of them (1,426) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 845. Precipitation totals 42.9 inches a year, most in June (5.2") and least in January (1.9"); May to September bring 53% of it.

The nearest other station, Columbia U Of M, MO, 18 miles south of Sturgeon, has a last frost 8 days earlier (April 5), a first frost 6 days later (October 31), a season 12 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Sturgeon 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, 8.4 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 34 days after the last snow.

ZIP 65284 is 17 miles from Moberly, MO, which stands at 860 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 65270 (Moberly). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 65284 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.