Frost Dates for 65653 — Forsyth, Missouri

Half of springs at Ozark Beach, MO see their last 32°F night by April 6; only one in ten is past it by March 23, and one in ten still has one after April 22. Planting tender crops after April 12 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 17 20%, and after April 22 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 31 in half of years, as early as October 17 one year in ten, and holds off past November 15 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 11, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 205 days in a typical year, longer than at 83% of the 158 Missouri stations; it reaches 229 days one year in ten and falls short of 185 one year in ten. On average 103 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 12 days longer, to about April 18, and return around October 21. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 99% of winters, usually between December 22 and February 18.

July is the warmest month at Ozark Beach, MO, averaging 92°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 48°F and 24°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 71% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,455 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 87% of the 158 Missouri stations. 37% of them (1,656) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 908. Precipitation totals 45.7 inches a year, most in May (5.3") and least in February (2.5"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Branson Airport, MO, 13 miles southwest of Forsyth and 452 feet higher, has a last frost 2 days later (April 8), a first frost 2 days later (November 2), a season 4 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Forsyth usually arrives around January 6, and the last of the season around February 9. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Ozark Beach, MO, 2.2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 92% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 56 days after the last snow.

ZIP 65653 is 2 miles from Ozark Beach, MO, which stands at 834 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 65653 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.