Frost Dates for 65622 — Buffalo, Missouri

Half of springs at Buffalo 2N, MO see their last 32°F night by April 23; only one in ten is past it by April 5, and one in ten still has one after May 8. Planting tender crops after April 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 4 20%, and after May 8 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 54% of the 158 Missouri stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 15 in half of years, as early as October 1 one year in ten, and holds off past October 28 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 25; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 29, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 175 days in a typical year, shorter than at 95% of the 158 Missouri stations; it reaches 196 days one year in ten and falls short of 153 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 11 days longer, to about May 4, and return around October 6. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 27 and March 7.

July is the warmest month at Buffalo 2N, MO, averaging 89°F by day and 66°F at night; January is the coldest at 43°F and 20°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October 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 29% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,919 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 63% of the 158 Missouri stations. 36% of them (1,428) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 848. Precipitation totals 45.2 inches a year, most in May (5.8") and least in February (2.2"); May to September bring 50% of it.

The nearest other station, Bolivar 1 NE, MO, 16 miles west of Buffalo, has a last frost 9 days earlier (April 14), a first frost 8 days later (October 23), a season 13 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Buffalo usually arrives around December 8, and the last of the season around February 25. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Buffalo 2N, MO, 2.5 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 57 days after the last snow.

ZIP 65622 is 3 miles from Buffalo 2N, MO, which stands at 1,071 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 65622 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.