Frost Dates for 65301 — Sedalia, Missouri

Half of springs at Sedalia Wtp, MO see their last 32°F night by April 18; only one in ten is past it by April 1, and one in ten still has one after May 2. Planting tender crops after April 24 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 28 20%, and after May 2 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 22 in half of years, as early as October 6 one year in ten, and holds off past November 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 31; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 22, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 186 days in a typical year, shorter than at 77% of the 158 Missouri stations; it reaches 207 days one year in ten and falls short of 164 one year in ten. On average 122 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 10 days longer, to about April 28, and return around October 11. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 4.

July is the warmest month at Sedalia Wtp, MO, averaging 87°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 April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 14% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,757 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 80% of the 158 Missouri stations. 36% of them (1,352) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 832. Precipitation totals 43.7 inches a year, most in May (5.3") and least in January (1.9"); May to September bring 54% of it.

The nearest other station, Cole Camp 3NW, MO, 15 miles south of Sedalia and 220 feet higher, has a last frost 5 days earlier (April 13), a first frost 1 day later (October 23), a season 5 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Sedalia usually arrives around December 22, and the last of the season around February 28. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Sedalia Wtp, MO, 2 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 49 days after the last snow.

ZIP 65301 is 2 miles from Sedalia Wtp, MO, which stands at 780 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 65301 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.