Frost Dates for 65483 — Houston, Missouri

Half of springs at Houston, MO see their last 32°F night by April 10; only one in ten is past it by March 25, and one in ten still has one after May 1. Planting tender crops after April 19 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 24 20%, and after May 1 10%. The 21 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 99% of the 158 Missouri stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so a fixed calendar date is a gamble here.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 23 in half of years, as early as October 6 one year in ten, and holds off past November 5 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 3; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 15, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 194 days in a typical year, shorter than at 50% of the 158 Missouri stations; it reaches 217 days one year in ten and falls short of 170 one year in ten. On average 108 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 15 days longer, to about April 25, and return around October 12. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 11 and February 24.

July is the warmest month at Houston, MO, averaging 87°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 43°F and 24°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 71% of years and May still brings one in 12% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,001 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 55% of the 158 Missouri stations. 37% of them (1,497) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 834. Precipitation totals 46.8 inches a year, most in May (5.4") and least in February (2.5"); May to September bring 47% of it.

The nearest other station, Licking 4N, MO, 17 miles north of Houston, has a last frost 10 days later (April 20), a first frost 4 days earlier (October 19), a season 13 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Houston usually arrives around December 24, and the last of the season around March 2. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Houston 2 W, MO, 3.1 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 39 days after the last snow.

ZIP 65483 is under a mile from Houston, MO, which stands at 1,224 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 65483 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.