Frost Dates for 65453 — Cuba, Missouri

Half of springs at Steelville 2 N, MO see their last 32°F night by April 26; only one in ten is past it by April 9, and one in ten still has one after May 12. Planting tender crops after May 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 6 20%, and after May 12 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 8 in half of years, as early as September 25 one year in ten, and holds off past October 23 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 18; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 1, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 164 days in a typical year, the shortest of the 158 Missouri stations; it reaches 187 days one year in ten and falls short of 144 one year in ten. On average 141 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 9 days longer, to about May 5, and return around October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 20 and March 12.

July is the warmest month at Steelville 2 N, MO, averaging 88°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 42°F and 19°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 35% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,539 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 91% of the 158 Missouri stations. 37% of them (1,308) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 787.

The nearest other station, Vichy Rolla National Airport, MO, 19 miles west of Cuba and 427 feet higher, has a last frost 14 days earlier (April 12), a first frost 17 days later (October 25), a season 30 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Cuba usually arrives around November 30, and the last of the season around March 24. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Rolla Missouri S&T, MO, 21.7 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 33 days after the last snow.

ZIP 65453 is 7 miles from Steelville 2 N, MO, which stands at 700 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 63080 (Sullivan). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 65453 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.