Frost Dates for 65649 — Fair Play, Missouri

Half of springs at Stockton Dam, MO see their last 32°F night by April 6; only one in ten is past it by March 21, and one in ten still has one after April 23. Planting tender crops after April 12 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 17 20%, and after April 23 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 66% of the 158 Missouri stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 30 in half of years, as early as October 17 one year in ten, and holds off past November 14 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 8; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 10, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 207 days in a typical year, longer than at 87% of the 158 Missouri stations; it reaches 228 days one year in ten and falls short of 184 one year in ten. On average 92 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 16, and return around October 21. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 10 and February 25.

July is the warmest month at Stockton Dam, MO, averaging 90°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 43°F and 23°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 65% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,495 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 89% of the 158 Missouri stations. 36% of them (1,618) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 931. Precipitation totals 44.9 inches a year, most in May (5.9") and least in January (2.0"); May to September bring 51% of it.

The nearest other station, Bolivar 1 NE, MO, 12 miles east of Fair Play, has a last frost 8 days later (April 14), a first frost 7 days earlier (October 23), a season 19 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Fair Play usually arrives around December 23, and the last of the season around February 5. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Stockton Dam, MO, 10.3 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 77% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 60 days after the last snow.

ZIP 65649 is 10 miles from Stockton Dam, MO, which stands at 922 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 65785 (Stockton). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 65649 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.