Frost Dates for 65552 — Plato, Missouri

Half of springs at Fort Leonard Wood, MO see their last 32°F night by April 14; only one in ten is past it by March 29, and one in ten still has one after April 30. Planting tender crops after April 21 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 25 20%, and after April 30 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 24 in half of years, as early as October 11 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 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 18, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 193 days in a typical year, shorter than at 55% of the 158 Missouri stations; it reaches 213 days one year in ten and falls short of 171 one year in ten. On average 111 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 13 days longer, to about April 27, and return around October 15. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 3 and March 2.

July is the warmest month at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, averaging 88°F by day and 66°F at night; January is the coldest at 42°F and 22°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 3,947 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 61% of the 158 Missouri stations. 37% of them (1,448) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 840.

The nearest other station, Licking 4N, MO, 16 miles east of Plato, has a last frost 6 days later (April 20), a first frost 5 days earlier (October 19), a season 12 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Plato 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, 17.2 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 43 days after the last snow.

ZIP 65552 is 15 miles from Fort Leonard Wood, MO, which stands at 1,123 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 65473 (Fort Leonard Wood). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 65552 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.